Backstory
I painted this picture of my trainer and his horse, Dakota because I like horses and I like my (former) trainer turned friend.
I put down an initial wash of sepia India ink because I have found it helps make watercolors a little more waterproof when added on top. Also, the India ink adds a light sheen when watercolor is added on top, which helped the highlights in the horse’s coat stand out a bit more.
March 2013.
Source: Black and white photo from Chris Cervantes, with permission.