Watercolor Portrait of Andrew Wyeth (Watch Me Crash and Burn)

Watch me run into trouble as I attempt to paint a portrait of artist, Andrew Wyeth. Such promise, such failure...
Photo used in demonstration by photographer Bruce Weber
My apologies to Bruce Weber.
Follow me on Instagram: brianashmore_studio

[@sirlurk_calot]

Hi Brian, I'm a little late to this thread but just had to add my 2c. I'm an engineer recently redundant and now in lockdown, to while away the days I'm trying to paint. It's so far from my former work it's proving a great help with my mental state. I have been trawling youtube looking for help and insperation, that's how I come to be here. I love watching you paint and find your explanation superb, thank you. To my point (at last), showing and explaining your mistakes like this is priceless. I used to say to my aprentice 'you learn far more from mistakes than you ever will from doing it right'. Now I have to go, I have a lot more of your videos to watch, and some paper to render usless. I hope you and your loved ones are keeping safe at this dreadful time, and thanks for helping me keep my sanity. Kindest regards, Mark from the UK.

[@mindofwatercolor]

Love, love, love Andrew Wyeth. We have one of the largest exhibits of his work here in the Greenville, SC Art Museum. He puts such neat design and composition into his pieces. Hey, your piece isn't that bad, especially for a quick sketchbook study. You're experienced enough I don't have to tell you, they are all learning experiences and just as valuable as the successes.

[@brianashmorestudio]

The Mind of Watercolor Hi, Steve! Man, that would be so great to have that kind of access to Wyeth's originals. That's fantastic! As far as successes and failures go, I'm sure you know how it is when what's in your mind's eye and what ends up on the paper are worlds apart. Definitely a learning experience, for sure. Take care.

[@MDCampbell]

We were very fortunate to have several exhibitions at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts (when I worked there) of Wyeth's work. A few years ago, they had a huge display of his Helga series, which literally made me want to quit doing art. Staggering in size, composition, value... everything. As for this portrait, Brian, it's interesting to see the point where you recognized you were overworking the shadows. I know I don't often recognize it until it's too late, so I just let it go, or in the work I do, I can clean and adjust in Photoshop before letting it go to a client or on social media. Personally, I think this came out really well and don't see it as overworked, as I like the darkness. But, you of course, have a different perspective and expectation. Thank you for this one. Really enjoyed the narrative! Cheers! :)

[@brianashmorestudio]

Hey Mark! Thanks! I stumbled on to (perhaps) the same Helga exhibit in San Diego in the early 2000s. I just happened to be walking by. I, too, was floored by seeing the work, in person. Like you said, you don't get a feel for the size of some of the paintings viewing them in a book. That was one of the best days of my life! Ha, ha! Thanks very much for the comment and your thoughts!!

[@QuerkieGal]

I know your videos have been done a while ago, but I just came to this video from following your Frankenstein tutorial and mine was an EPIC FAIL. I wish I could "fail" like your Andrew Wyeth portrait. My Frankie was so much worse. Love your artwork and videos! I hope you come back to YT soon!

[@pmlt2010]

I've seen a lot of watercolor videos and it's the first time that I see the painter assuming and sharing a painting panic moment with all of us. Thank you so much. I've been there for the last 25 years but I'm resilient and one day I will watercolor. You are a true master.

[@brianashmorestudio]

Paulo Tavares Thank you, Paulo! That's right. Just keep painting and you can't help but get better and better. Dedication is the key. Thanks so much for watching! Much appreciated!!

[@davidamos3477]

LOL, nice to see you are honest and show this.... I love this..

[@brianashmorestudio]

David Amos Thanks David! It was a toss-up. In the end, I decided it would be best to show warts and all and see if there was something to learn from, here... for the viewers and for myself. Thanks for watching!

[@Spiroffd]

At first I was waiting for the yeah right moment of this isn’t going to look that bad. For such a long time it didn’t!!! And as every single one of us have done we didn’t stop! Great video. You explain things clearly and in a way that I really appreciate and enjoy watching.

[@brianashmorestudio]

Spiroffd No "yeah right" moment. It did go bad. Ha ha! Thanks for the comment and watching!

[@kevinamack6]

Thanks for sharing. On the bright side I thought the contrast in your painting was great. Sharing our failures reminds us of how challenging watercolor painting really can be.

[@brianashmorestudio]

Kevin Mack Thanks, Kevin! Yes, watercolors can "go south" in a hurry! 😂👍

[@robynjorde5592]

It takes a big man to post a crash and burn video 😄! Good to show that it happens to everyone, though. Looking forward to more from you. I’m a big Wyeth fan myself and would love to be able to see some of his work in person.

[@brianashmorestudio]

Thanks! Ha, ha! I got to see some of Wyeth's originals a few years ago. Such a great day!!

[@maddwoba]

Not a crash and burn to me :)

[@brianashmorestudio]

maddwoba Thanks, Buddy! I wish I could share your point of view. 😂

[@cathyndellinger]

Saw an amazing exhibit this summer at the Brandywine Museum in PA. Thanks for sharing this. Love him.

[@brianashmorestudio]

Cathy Dellinger I stumbled upon an exhibit of his work while traveling a few years ago. One of the best days of my life. 😃 Thanks for watching!

[@cathyndellinger]

Brian Ashmore Studio so subtle, but so amazing.

[@freddykrueger6571]

I'd be proud if i painted something half as good

[@brianashmorestudio]

Thanks so much!

[@jennifernewmanart]

I loved this , I had a giggle because it reminded me of so many of my loved and then lost artworks ! keep up the awesome videos

[@brianashmorestudio]

Thanks, Jennifer! 😂

[@essietangle9931]

Brian, thanks for sharing the video. It’s important to see things that work and thing that dont work for you.

[@brianashmorestudio]

Essie Tangle Agreed. It’s important to understand that everyone fails and it’s usually the ones that fail the most that succeed the most. There is no success without failure along the way. 👍

[@bozmundarts2614]

White gouache.... Maaaaybe...?

[@ladybloodieify]

🙆 for things not perfect.! Thank you . I love seeing how ppl may miss up from there attions and how they fix it or work around it😄.......i actually like it 😊iam on the werid side though

[@brianashmorestudio]

Lady Bloodie Thanks LB! I'm on the weird side, too. Ha, ha!

[@UConceptPublishing]

you made me laugh. i was thinking of telling you ‘go back to the windsor & newton watercolors to have less dense colors’ LOL

[@brianashmorestudio]

Ha ha!!! I don't know that they would have helped in this case. It was doomed from the start!! ;)

[@agntsmth77]

Today i drew the color wheel chart and could not mix the red and blue to make the purple.

[@brianashmorestudio]

agntsmth77 Now, that's having a bad day! 😁. Thanks for commenting!

[@derekbradbury749]

Maybe you were very tired and often mixing paint can be hard work. Is your arm or wrist suffering a bit of arthritis? Rest is the only cure for that. Don’t despair. When you mix colours next time do it more gently. If you find that you can’t blend red and blue try blue and yellow to make a green colour. As my dad used to say’ it’s all in the mind’. Maybe you had a bruised fingernail. I hope it gets better soon. If this condition persists ask your neighbour to assist you. Unable to mix paint is akin to writers block.. Just will yourself to do it, drive yourself foreword. Once you have overcome this little setback, you will be able to mix paint like the rest of us painters. Best of luck