"Grape Juice" is a mixed media painting. It was begun by sketching the image on Arches Aquarelle 16" by 20 " cold press paper. Then a watercolor wash was applied to the main image areas using Winsor and Newton artist's watercolors.
On top of the watercolor washes, a layer of colored pencil was applied. Due to their ease of blending and high pigment content, Prismacolor colored pencils are my choice. In order to reduce smudging, colored pencil paintings are typically begun in the upper left corner and then worked across the image to the lower portion (I am right handed). Thin sheets of vellum are used over the image in order to protect it from smudging.
The image to the right shows the background and 
top third of the painting almost completed. The dark green background was created by first using Crimson Lake, a dark red. Dark Green was placed over this layer. Final touches were done in Indigo Blue.
The background plants were colored with various shades of green. To make certain leaves appear to be behind the other leaves, I darkened them with Crimson Red.
The picture to the right shows the background plants further developed along with the chair behind the baby's head. 
The cinder blocks behind the father were started with applications of Tuscan Red, a very dark warm red. Over the red, I used Celadon Green, a mid-toned greyed green. The red and green blended visually to create a mid-toned grey. Some areas were darkened further by Tuscan Red and Indigo Blue. In areas, the application of the Tuscan Red and Celadon Green was repeated to add depth to the image.
For the shirt, the pale Winsor Red watercolor wash was covered with an initial layer of Deco Pink colored pencil. Highlight areas were then covered with White colored pencil. Darker areas of the shirt folds were covered with layers of Pink, Hot Pink, Process Red and Magenta. The folds in the shadows were covered in Lilac, Mulberry, Imperial Violet and Ultramarine.
At the bottom of the painting, the shadows were created by using similar colors as the cinder blocks, but with paler version. The initial color was Beige. On top of this, Jade Green was applied, then Lavender and Slate Blue. To create the color in the metal legs, Putty Beige was applied on the legs in the shade. On top of these initial layers, either White, or Slate Blue or Goldenrod. Dark areas were covered with Ultramarine.
