My adult class got to know Rayner's "Smelly Louie" and "Olga da Polga" books and illustrations. The focus of this project was on drawing (and observation) skills and watercolor techniques, but also incorporated techniques in building up layers.
After drawing our animal by observing Rayner's work, we began applying color in light washes of watercolor. The background and the undercoat of our animal were done with lots of water and little pigment.
We mixed and used dirty and neutral colors from our palettes. To achieve this, we mixed colors with browns, grays and black, or mixed complimentary colors together.
After our first layer was dry, we began layering on colors and texture to our animals using colored pencil, graphite, chalk, pen, marker, charcoal and crayon - anything goes, as long as it gives us that dirty, scruffy, scraggy look... because Louie is a dirty, stinky dog who's been rolling around in garbage and splashing in the murky pond to get his beloved stench back.
After our animals were full of texture, we defined their features (nose, mouth, eyes, toes) with pen, gave him some graphite whiskers, and then created the details for his habitat. We drew flies, fleas swarming around him. We added leaves, grass, weeds and flowers to the ground and background complete with snails and dragonflies.
We were mindful of using colors more softly and transparently for the botanicals that are farther away, so give the illusion of space and depth.
My adult class loved this fun, creative, experimental and mixed-media project, and learned so much about watercolor techniques and layering.
