Marybeth Heikes

Paintings in Watercolor & Mixed Media

Roscoe, Snyder & Pacific Caboose #9

Roscoe, Snyder & Pacific Caboose #9

Watercolor

Many of my paintings are part of a series, and this is no exception. I was asked to sketch and paint the small rivertown community of Bentonsport, Iowa. Bentonsport is a quaint, picturesque village to visit and many artists come to paint it in the various seasons.

This particular caboose is a rental cottage at present. I have painted many train engines and cabooses and this was a delight to paint. I first began taking photographs in strong sunlight and at different angles, walking around the caboose. It sits next to the Mason House Inn, another structure which I have painted in watercolor.

A quick pencil sketch was completed before I tackled the painting. I wanted to familiarize myself with the shapes and its many details that I do not notice while snapping pictures. Once I decided which of my photos is best to use as reference, I chose a cold-press 140# weight watercolor paper and sketched the caboose carefully, paying attention to the details of the wheel on front, the hanging lantern, lettering of the caboose name, rails, windows, etc.

I found it difficult to use just one yellow pigment for the actual color and combined various yellows of Naples yellow, raw sienna, cadmium yellow light, quinacridone gold and lemon yellow. I wet each paper section at a time to soften the sizing of the paper so the pigments blend and meld together nicely while the paper is wet. It is one of the qualities of watercolor painting that I find expressive. I work carefully in sections so that each shape blends with the previous one. Shadow colors are placed before adding the top yellows, and as long as the pigments are dry, one can float many layers of paint over each previous layer. I usually paint only two or three layers, making sure the previous one is completely dry before adding another color on top. I feel this is a successful painting as it describes the caboose perfectly — I enjoyed painting this machine.

Posted in Midwest Life on September 15, 2017.

Tags: , , , , ,

Want to Buy It?

Format Size Price
Original 13″ × 8 ½″

No frame (16" x 12") with white mat

$150.00 |
Print 8″ × 10″

Actual image size is 6.54″×10″.

$30.00 |
Print 11″ × 14″

Actual image size is 9.15″×14″.

$40.00 |
Print 16″ × 20″

Actual image size is 13.08″×20″.

$55.00 |
  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • American Express
  • Discover
  • PayPal

*Frame and mats not included unless noted. Shipping costs are for the continental U.S. Ordering help & policies.