Watercolor Painting of Howard College Columbia MD Rouse Student Services Hall

This is a little painting I did this last week of the Rouse Student Services Hall at Howard College in Columbia MD.

I had the day off from my regular job on Friday and it was a beautiful day so I took advantage and walked over to the campus.  Normally I paint in the afternoon when I get off from my job or on Saturday afternoons after the household chores are done. The problem is that the light is always the same since I have been painting at the same time each afternoon, so I was excited to get an opportunity to paint in the earlier part of the day.

Rouse Student Services Hall Howard Community College Columbia MD 

I chose the Rouse Student Services hall because it is an iconic building in Howard County, or anywhere. The lines are very dramatic, the colors are beautiful and the geometry is almost science fiction. The sunlight was perfect, it was fully on it.

I spent an hour sketching it. I was very concerned to capture the details and to get them right. If you mess up on the beginning plan it takes a lot of energy and effort to correct it later on.

When I was satisfied with the sketch I began painting the large areas using my larger brushes.

I came back Saturday morning to work on it some more and finished it Sunday.

It was very nice for several staff of the college to stop and say hello. The pleasant people who work at the college always make me feel welcome.  We all admired the powerful design of the building.

I think the execution is fine and the technique is OK, but the composition is still a little off. No one is as critical of their work as the artist who created it. But you know it is art and it was my intention to share an expression of the beauty of the place.  

Thank you to Howard Community College for letting me paint their beautiful campus.

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Adron


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(c) Adron

Painting of Monument at Howard Community College Columbia MD

This is a little watercolor I did mostly on location at HCC, Howard Community College.  It is 9x12 inches. This picture is of the granite sculpture that is part of a series of nine monuments that greet the visitor.  Their gray granite color and texture are a beautiful punctuation to the colors of the grounds.

The Child Hope. Painting of Monument at HCC

The monuments seem to be in three sets of three.  It is like the "Columbia Stonehenge," but instead of a circle they are in a line. You look at them and say, "What is that about?  Is there a message?  Is it something mathematical?"  My answer is that this row of monuments is beautiful and as meaningful as each person who views them.

If successful art causes people to think then these nine monuments are a success.

My title for this picture is my name for this monument, "The Child Hope." I felt that since this is the one nearest the street it is like this monument is leading the others out from the campus with the promise to serve and bring hope to the world.  That thought became my inspiration for this painting.

I painted this on several afternoons standing in the shade of one of the buildings.  I had to do a little touch up at home to finish it off.  It was a very complicated project and I feel I did not keep many rules of composition in this one.  It is more of a portrait than a landscape since the focus is at center. There was so much in the distant background that I became overwhelmed and took a very minimal approach to the background and muted the colors especially all the greens.  I had to make the bushes darker than they really were to give contrast to the monument.

I am very grateful to Howard Community College for having such a beautiful campus.  Thank you for letting me capture some of its inspiration in my painting.

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I hope you enjoy my art. 
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Adron


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(C)Adron Dozat

Howard County Community College Watercolor Painting Of The Quad

Here is a little painting of the Quad at Howard County Community College, HCC.  It is watercolor and the size is 9x12.

As an artist, I find the Quad very dynamic with angles and perspective that makes your head spin.  The feeling is very progressive, almost futuristic, but with a sense of Zen or balance to it.  The shadows make the place different each time you come so it always feels fresh.

One of the hardest things is choosing which view to paint.  I know I will be painting more so I started on a long view of the quad.

Long View of The Quad At Howard County Community College HCC, Watercolor by Adron

I visited the quad on three separate days to paint this and one evening at home to finish it.

The first day I worked on it for an hour and a half just sketching it in trying to get it right.  A glance at the picture and the scene would make it look like a simple task; but there were a lot of challenges with perspective, the structures, and the details.  I give it a few washes of color in the sky, buildings, greens, and the brick.  This was just a quick underpainting.

The second time I came for a couple of hours and built up the colors and the large areas without giving much attention to details.  This was a time for the big brushes.

The third visit I worked with the details and textures of leaves and grass and buildings.  I used a lot of small brushes this time.

The weather and personal schedule did not allow me to make it back to finish on campus, so I spent an evening at home adding detail, values, and texture.  I kept saying, "OK, now it is finished," but I would look at it and see something else to clean up, touch up or fill in.  It is not a good idea to start a painting outdoors and finish indoors because you do not see the colors the same but I have had a lot of experience and I think it worked out.

I am mostly happy with it; I am never completely happy with my work and say the next one will be better.  In review, I see some problems with the perspective, but the next one will be better.

Thank You to Howard County Community College for letting me paint your beautiful campus.

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Thank you for visiting my blog. 
I hope you enjoy my art. 
If you want to see more just choose from the labels or the favorites in the sidebar. 
 

(c) Adron

The Finished Painting of The Hickory Ridge Building at HCC Columbia MD

About a week ago I started a painting of one of the buildings at Howard County Community College, HCC. It was the Hickory Ridge Building. I think it is a beautiful building with lots of contrast and interesting angles. The trees and gardens make it very pleasant to see.

Since I live near by and it was a nice day I decided to walk there.  I found the spot where I stood the first two times that I worked on the painting and took a moment to study the building, the sky (no rain today!), the light and the position of the sun so the values and shadows would be consistent.

I must have looked lost or something because a security guard drove up. I don't blame him for being concerned since with my backpack, big floppy hat, umbrella and strange painting supplies I may have looked like a homeless person.

I always seem to get chased off by security people.  I guess they are doing their jobs but I am always careful to be safe, out of the way, and friendly. Many ask if I have permission or a letter from management. Some say I am performing and must have a licence. None seem to care that my first amendment right to free speech guarantees that I can paint a picture.

So I was shocked by the friendly and helpful manner of the HCC security!  He asked if I needed something or was looking for something.  I showed him the work I had done so far and said that I was hoping to finish painting the picture of the building. I told him I came late Saturday afternoon because I knew then I would not be in anyone's way. He was very kind and admired the unfinished painting. We spoke for a few minutes about the building and my painting then he wished me good luck with my art and wished me a nice day before he went back to his patrol. I think the pleasant encounter set me in a good mood and I think it had a positive effect on the atmosphere of my painting.

Obviously customer service is a high priority of the HCC staff. I will come back and paint more!

I had a good couple of hours of painting before the daylight shifted too much, but except for a little touch up when I got home I finished the painting.

Hickory Ridge Building at HCC,  

I know that I left off the signage that said HICKORY RIDGE BUILDING. I just did not feel I could do the lettering well.  The building is distinctive without the wording on the top.

Size is 7.5 inches by 11 inches. Medium is watercolor. Finished July 25, 2015.

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Thank you for visiting my blog. 
I hope you enjoy my art. 
If you want to see more just choose from the labels or the favorites in the sidebar. 
Adron


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Painting on location McCuan Hall Across The Quad At HCC Howard County Community College.

This is a miniature watercolor painting I did "plein air" on Sunday 7/12/15. It is McCuan Hall at HCC, Howard County Community College, Columbia, MD. It is a beautiful little campus with a lot of stunning architecture, grounds, and pathways. It is small and compact but there is a lot of scenes that an artist could paint on this beautiful campus. The lines of the buildings are full of surprises, and the gardens give great contrast.

I walked around for a while looking at all the possibilities and was overwhelmed at the many themes and subjects. When I sat down at some tables I looked up across the quad and was struck by this gorgeous and complex building with strong lines all set off by the textures and colors of gardens and beautiful trees. I sat down for a happy hour or two and did this little watercolor.

Watercolor Painting of McCuan Hall At HCC

I have a little bag that I keep some painting and drawing supplies, with have two small (6x4 inch) pieces of watercolor paper taped down to some cardboard ready for any emergency painting. I started by making a careful sketch in the scene with an hb pencil, I am learning to take a lot of time and sketch carefully since nothing fixes a bad sketch. I began painting with the light colors of blue and worked in the sky then progressed to the buildings and finished with the gardens.

The light was beginning to change so I knew I had to call it quits, you have to work quickly since the shadows and colors change hourly.

(c) Adron

____________________________

Thank you for visiting my blog. 
I hope you enjoy my art. 
If you want to see more just choose from the labels or the favorites in the sidebar. 
Adron



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