In this workshop, John Salminen AWS DF, NWS hits the streets of New York to gather candid reference shots for his urban scene. He photographs with a designer’s eye. When he returns to the studio, he modifies the color and composition of his reference materials.

John teaches a simple system for accurately transferring his complex image to watercolor paper. He lays a foundation with careful masking and vivid washes of hard-to-define colors. He concentrates on value relationships as he fills his landscape with shimmering streets and glowing neon. He uses mesmerizing reflective effects as an entry point to the composition and directs attention with white paper. John tones down conflicting passages with a mouth atomizer.

John Salminen continually solves design problems, modifying colors in his foreground figure and lifting to enhance lines. The workshop includes exercises in perspective drawing and extensive discussions of design and reference photography.

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