Triumph motorcycle, a work in progress

Here is the trial piece that I have been working on.  It is a close up view of a Triumph Bonneville T100.   For something this complicated I do a detailed and precise drawing first.  This is because in watercolour painting it is important to plan ahead where the white bits of the painting will be.  I do not use white paint because it makes the colours dull.  So almost all the white that you see in my finished paintings are unpainted paper.  (Occasionally I will use thin lines of white for boat rigging and antenna.)

This is after the first layer of paint.  I try to let the colours mix on the paper as much as possible, at least in the larger areas.  

I have painted in some of the black just to see how it is going to look.  As painting chrome and metal is still a fairly new challenge for me I am approaching this differently than perhaps I will when I am more comfortable with it.  

More colour and more black... I am quite happy with how the spokes on the front wheel are looking.

Triumph Test, 14 x 10", watercolour 

(still a work in progress, note the handlebars, or lack thereof!)

It is amazing how much difference even a simple background will make.  Even though this is not finished, I am happy enough with it as a trial piece.  I guess that means that it is time for me to start the "big one".  Stay tuned for more posts as I go on.