Watercolor Study and Final Painting

Artist: Dorrie Rifkin, United States
Artist Statement: How many of you artists out there were taught to do a study prior to painting? And how many of you just want to skip this step and dive into the painting? Well, I would like to say, for the record, to all those teachers: You were right! (Hope my students are reading this). Doing the study is the most important step for me.

A few years back, I decided to start doing studies, and dedicated a sketchbook for that purpose. I use the left-hand page to work out the colors, and the right for my study. A study takes me an hour or two; this time is well spent. The study helps me figure out what works and doesn’t work. It gives me the freedom to paint.