Painting Demonstration: Bridge, Central Park

Hello Everyone,
+This is a sketch-based, start-to-finish watercolor painting demonstration recorded in real-time. In this video, I cover intention, composition, values, and color - as well as interpretation, design, formatting, drawing, sketching, and perspective, etc.
+The scene is an interpretation of a view of one of the many historic bridges here in New York City's beautiful Central Park. This is Driprock Bridge from about 1865 - designed by Calvert Vaux with Frederick Law Olmstead
Thanks for watching!
Tom
+This painting was done on Arches Watercolor Paper - rough surface - 300gsm :
+15x12 inches
+Pigments by Daniel Smith
+Brushes by Escoda and Neef
+Palette by House of Hoffman
+Sketch pencils by Blackwing and Faber-Castell
+Sketchbook by Stillman + Birn
Thomas W Schaller AWS NWS TWSA ASAI
www.thomaswschaller.com
thomaswschaller
thomaswschaller
Thomas W Schaller - Artist, Architect, Author
New York City - 2024

[@rosannako4694]

I'm not an English-speaking person, but your English is so easy to follow and so comfortable to listen to. Love the way you show how the colors were mixed and to learn the philosophy of your painting. The encouragement at the end gives me confidence and strength to try my own creation. Thank you!

[@thomaswschaller]

That is so good to hear ! Thank you ❤

[@DorothyKiley]

Hi, I am an English teacher from Massachusetts, USA. I suggest you use captions with this gear instructional video. You probably know more than you think! In English we have many, many sight words, that you just need to remember. This guy is great.

[@paulw9684]

One of those occasions when 'Rainy days and Mondays' never let you down. Another superb addition to your You Tube portfolio for which I am sure we are all extremely grateful. Painting outside would undoubtedly have made you happy, but console yourself with the fact that instead you have made thousands of your followers and admirers, ecstatic!!

[@thomaswschaller]

Thank you so much !

[@lynnfargo4094]

Thank you for all your encouragement and sharing ❤

[@thomaswschaller]

thanks for watching

[@bl9531]

Thx for posting… you are one of my favorite water colour artists. I wonder why your paintings are so instantly recognizable. My guess is that it is the strength of your architectural rendition, the mix of warm and cool and the sharp variations in value - usually with the darkest light beside the lightest light.

[@thomaswschaller]

Thank you for watching!

[@louisepansieri3230]

Thank you so much for this lesson. Hope you have a good umbrella because now you have lots of people praying that it rains in NY.

[@namratashah9888]

There's so much to learn from this one demonstration! Thank you for sharing the detailed process.

[@thomaswschaller]

Thank you for watching!

[@joemarieyao3268]

You draw like an architect , your drawing alone is already a work of art . By the way I’m an architect and I love your works

[@sherryburnett6088]

Fabulous tutorial. Love your quick mark making. Thank you

[@thomaswschaller]

thanks so much

[@adriennesaracen6525]

Excellent tutorial and a beautiful painting. Thank you.

[@thomaswschaller]

thank you

[@tricianl]

Thank you for sharing! Such an inspiration ❤

[@thomaswschaller]

Thanks for watching

[@MissKats13]

Thank you so much for this video, it means a lot to see how you work.

[@thomaswschaller]

Thanks so much Kata

[@gaylefriscia7488]

I’m learning so much about how not to be so literal and to depict depth and light. Thank you Thomas. Your demo and comments are invaluable.

[@thomaswschaller]

Thanks - It's always a big lesson for me too

[@nancyvogt1216]

Love your life philosophy-and could listen to you and watch you draw and paint endlessly. Thank you🙏

[@thomaswschaller]

Thanks for watching!

[@EuropaPhoenix]

I really enjoy the way you mix realism and abstraction in your paintings. That's what I try to emulate in my own work. Being "less specific" and more "evocative".

[@mehmetsbirlik4112]

"Simplicity" has own beauty! Knowledge is the key to be able to see and understand that! Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
You're truly a treasure!❤

[@thomaswschaller]

thanks so much

[@victoriaconto8231]

You ever decide to make a video of how you do a tighter more architectural drawing, i would absolutley watch! You do such beautiful work. Youve been such an inspiration to me!

[@user-lt7rf3tr7o]

Dear Thomas, I am so happy that you recently decided to post more videos! Sometimes I try to paint alone with you, sometimes I don't dare thinking I would never tackle such a huge project. Either way it is such a joy, such a pleasure, just to see you drawing and painting! Thank you very much for such a generous gift.

[@thomaswschaller]

many. thanks

[@nancywentzler6866]

Thank you for your generosity with time and skills. This is so appreciated by all of us. The sketching ideas and process is so simple and valuable. And as always the painting process is a wonderful learning opportunity. Thank you for your gift to us. What a special treat.

[@thomaswschaller]

thank you!

[@user-qh2nk6of6v]

So beautiful and calming! Thomas tutorials are always like a yoga to me)) Thank you so much for these videos!!!

[@moonshineblue3468]

Thank you so much for sharing with us your paintings and all the process. Love the way you draw. And I always learn so much. Thanks again!!!!👏👏👏

[@user-lf2hn8dd2m]

I really like the effect you have achieved under the bridge. Another great painting. Liz

[@billschaefer9703]

Tom, thank you once again for taking the time to demonstrate and narrate your work. Your liner brush with the fat barrel looks very useful. I'll try to find reference to it in your other videos but if you happen to see this and could comment on the make and model, I would appreciate it. By the way, I just finished a painting of visitors boarding the Governor's Island ferry in NYC. I lived there many years ago and there are some interesting potential scenes for you there if you get a chance to visit. Lots of history and contrasts of older fort structures with the backdrop of the modern city which might interest you.

[@thomaswschaller]

Lots of people make those kinds of brushes. The one used here was purchased somewhere in Italy and has no markings left. But DaVinci makes a great one - A search for Caseneo Series Liner Brush should locate it. Escoda and Neef also make good ones

[@billschaefer9703]

@@thomaswschaller Thank you.

[@smithdraws]

When we took the family to NYC my son and I got to have a catch in Central Park. It was a highlight! And we were pleasantly surprised at the large rock outcroppings which we fun to climb! Thanks for sharing your art!

[@thomaswschaller]

Thanks so much

[@charlie1872]

Fabulous drawing skills. I was a Draughtsman in another life but the learned skills sticks with me as aI sketch cars and stuff for instagram. I will be doing a watercolour painting of our daughter’s new home, a Georgian style surrounded by trees and behind is a wooded hill.
This is inspiring for me and given me sone great ideas on how I should begin and what to think of.
Thank you
Regards
Charlie

[@thomaswschaller]

Thank you

[@DebOlliff]

Thank you, Tom. I enjoyed this so much. It is so kind of you to share your process. Can't wait for the next one! ;)

[@user-ux5wc6cf1u]

You are the most generous of the outstanding masters. Thank you for your invaluable experience ❤

[@hermineairmine2112]

Bonjour, Merci encore pour ce nouveau partage, je suis toujours ravie quand je vois l'une de vos nouvelles publications car je sais qu'elles me font réellement progresser et apprendre. De plus vous êtes un des rares artistes qui ose prendre le risque de se renouveler, et oser montrer ses connaissances avec beaucoup de pédagogie 😊

[@janpastor5967]

Again, Thank you!

[@carolannefisher1516]

I am sorry to hear that someone "took you to task" about your drawing. I, for one, love the way you make your underdrawings visible, telling parts of many of your final works. So subtle, so beautiful.

[@cosmicranger1]

Thank you, Tom,
Each tutorial is a huge gift.
Much appreciated!

[@holly_kay5570]

Same here...Tom is such a wonderful and generous artist. I'm learning so much from his drawings and paintings!

[@auraservent7282]

Very beautiful, lovely light!!Thank you 😊

[@seelingtan3317]

Hi Tom, how lucky here is raining too and taking the opportunity to draw along with you while waiting for clear sky. i love to add animals in my work😽

[@donceltic4631]

Thomas, thank you so much for posting these long form videos! I have always enjoyed your artwork. Now to watch and listen you your comments as your create beautiful paintings helps unlock the magic in your work. It actually produces an even greater appreciation for your work to get a glimpse of your thought process and to watch your vision translated into the artwork. Thanks!!!

[@thomaswschaller]

Thanks so much Don. I appreciate it

[@potaxalum9856]

This is so lovely! Thank you so much for doing this. I love that you don’t skip any steps at all!

[@luckyhiker3434]

Thomas, I really like this composition and your accompanying narrative is excellent. Even without watching there is so much information that I can draw from. Robt

[@pfisidro]

every single painting is a master class!
we are learning a lot! thanks for sharing your experience.

[@ganarseunacre]

Fantastic painting. Always learning from her right decisions. The dry brush stroke and the way it is used is wonderful. I'm trying, but even if it's rough paper it's complicated. His videos are a total inspiration. Thank you very very much

[@wmbriggz]

Since viewing some of your videos… I have been creating a detailed ( for me ) drawing, creating pre-washes and using wet-on-dry for at least my background….and… this hobby-est is pleased with the results…. Thank you…..

[@PamelaChase]

Beautiful, Tom, and thanks for including all the planning!

[@JVSwailesBoudicca]

Oh my....what a treat, thank you so much for this video. I haven't got to the end of it yet but it is wonderful to watch you work. The end result is beautiful.

[@jamesdumars6318]

More amazed every time I see you paint. Always a stunning piece.

[@jcline147]

Thank you once again. Taking a few notes…especially noted..the “reflective light” under the bridge.

[@kajanutrius]

Gracias maestro.

[@martinullrich655]

Thanks for this tutorial! 🤩 I enjoy to watch all of yours, as they are so helpful for me to learn and I always get inspiration!

[@suel4269]

I recently started using Holbein Mineral Violet . Thankful that’s it’s still raining there. 😂 Beautiful painting.

[@LiNa-cn6mu]

This is a lovely surprise Thomas 😁 I'm having a quiet public holiday here in Queensland Australia ❤

[@maryrichinick7287]

Fascinating to watch your process and I liked your commentary, too. Beautiful painting!

[@mchris1020]

I love your precise. detailed drawings!

[@holly_kay5570]

Beautiful! I'm learning so much from you.

[@jobod01]

Bravo Thomas! Tack så mycket! Hälsningar från Sverige

[@morgenmachen2400]

Very helpful to see your assessment at the end. And as was commented elsewhere I do very much appreciate your technical drawing skills. One of your signatures, I'd say.

[@artistmama7]

Just beautiful!

[@anick6265]

Wow so beautiful💕

[@jeanpierredeldyck9873]

Grand Merci pour ce travail, beaucoup d’informations à retenir selon notre niveau il me faudra revivre régulièrement ce moment très agréable en soit
Bravo pour vos commentaires mème si traduit automatiquement sont quelquefois approximatifs
Merci

[@bsanjiban]

Lovely painting

[@heronalvarez3600]

Gracias Maestro!!

[@MyrriahJane]

Just WoW! There was an entire course of information in this single demonstration. Thanks, Tom.💙 I have a question: if I have Van Dyke Brown in my palette, what advantage does adding Sepia offer?

[@thomaswschaller]

Thanks - VD Brown's a little warmer - but they're nor far apart

[@MyrriahJane]

@@thomaswschaller That helps. Thanks.

[@rosine2]

Bonjour Thomas, Je suis sincèrement désolée que vous ayez retiré votre précédente vidéo hommage à Paul Auster. J'ai buté sur certains mots en anglais que j'ai recherchés et quand j'ai voulu réécouter dans le nouveau contexte (en ayant tous les mots... c'est mieux😊) la vidéo avait disparu. Dommage.. Vraiment. Merci pour celle-ci très belle aussi comme toujours ...

[@luisaaronriosmeza8335]

hola bonita pintura, pero estaba viendo la anterior , creo que se llama "Not there", no la terminé de ver, y ya no aparece , que suecdió? Me parecía una de las mejores pinturas que nos has regalado, podrías ponerla de nuevo, aunque solo sea unos dias ?

[@thomasyang7077]

Dear Thomas.... I would like to know how to modify the brush which used for painting right side tree.
I observed it is cut around the brush. Appreciated if we see close view of your brush. what brush no.?
Thanks a lot.

[@thomaswschaller]

No it's not a modified brush. It's a liner brush. I have a few by different manufacturers - they have a larger barrel and longer quills coming out of the top. DaVinci makes a nice one in the Casseneo Series

[@jamesworthylake3649]

Hi Thomas I think your drawings and painting are great,
I was wondering if you do any plein air?

[@thomaswschaller]

Yes I do - lots of

[@craiglay8481]

I’ve heard you talk about your brushes and paper a good amount… do you always use the same blackwings? Which model is your preference?

[@thomaswschaller]

For sketch pencils, I most often use Blackwing 602 model - But sometime the Palamino, both harder and softer

[@craiglay8481]

@@thomaswschaller thanks. I really enjoy your videos, thanks for sharing them.

[@user-hp9hn8me7i]

Can u please do a beginners tutorial

[@thomaswschaller]

did you not see my beginners' video - "the basics"?

[@carolannefisher1516]

You do know that you may be responsible for a rainy-climate change in New York…I expect there are a lot of people hoping (and perhaps dancing) for rain in NYC knowing that rain in NYC means more Thomas for the rest of the world. Perhaps you should consider switching things up for to make a few sunny weather visits…