Two Tractors in Watercolor

The recent state fair gave me an opportunity to photograph and sketch a few antique tractors, and what with the coming harvest season, the subject of farms and farm equipment came to mind.

Here are a couple of new tractor paintings, both done on 140# watercolor paper. The first is in an 8x10 sketchbook and the second is 4x6 (postcard-size). In each case I drew the image lightly in graphite then completed the sketch with fine ink lines followed by transparent watercolor washes. After the washes dried I went back to emphasize lines and edges followed by reinforcing the darks and softening other edges.

"1949 John Deere," watercolor & ink

"Allis-Chalmers," watercolor & ink