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This doodlewash is of one of the many fountains that have given Kansas City its nickname, The City of Fountains. The first city-built fountain was in 1889 and since then over 47 publicly-owned fountains have been added to various locations around the city.
This is such an icon in Kansas City, I knew I had to show you all, but I was stalling because it involved sketching a horse (something I hadn’t done yet), sketching standing water and spraying water (something I didn’t quite have a clue how to paint!).
For this doodlewash grabbed by Moleskine again and used Cobalt Blue, Cobalt Teal, Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Sienna, Raw Umber, Quinacridone Gold, Quinacridone Rust, Sap Green and some white gouache for the water spray. I’m sure there’s a way to do this without resorting to white gouache, but that seems hard and I’m no purist.
This particular fountain is the J. C. Nichols Memorial Fountain fountain and it’s the best-known, most-photographed of all of the city’s fountains. It is located at the east entrance to the popular Country Club Plaza district which you can see the start of via the building in the background.
The figures were sculpted by Henri Greber in 1910 and adorned the mansion of Clarence Mackay in Long Island, NY. It has four heroic horsemen which are said to represent the four rivers of the world: the Mississippi River, the Volga River, the Seine and the Rhine (Yet I’m pretty sure there are more than four rivers in the world). It’s a wonderful fountain in the city, and I’m glad that I was able to finally muster the courage the doodlewash it and check it off the list!
I always enjoy your fountain scenes, and you did a great job with the horse, Charlie! Way to go! 😀
Thanks so much Laura!! ❤️❤️😃Not sure I got the spray part down, but I think it at least resembled water so I give it a win! Hehe
They just get better. So so beautiful – I LOVE the spray.
I’m not surprised it’s so popular… I want to be there after seeing this!
Awww thanks Jaco! What a sweet thing to say! 😊 I’m glad you like it friend! Glad you like the spray! Lol…wasn’t sure I quite had it! 😉
Oh, I think you definitely have it! Indeed you’re becoming simply too good at this stuff. You’ve actually inspired me to have a go at a fountain-y drawing – haha, we’ll soon see what ‘not quite having it’ looks like!
Haha! I doubt that Jacob! I’m sure your fountain-y drawing will be amazing! Can’t wait to see it friend! 😃👍🏻
Charlie you’re just getting braver and braver. Did you use your new watercolor brushes on this? if you did, they and you did a wonderful job. And by the way congrats on your new job how exciting.
Thanks so much Kit!! ❤️❤️😃 I did use my new brushes and I love them! They’ll be all I use from now on! Hehe
You’re cutting your chops beautifully ~ magnificent
Thanks so much Cynthia!! ❤️❤️😃
I’m going to have to get to Kansas City one of these days…you are whetting everyone’s appetite. I hope to see more fountains too. This is beautiful. (K.)
Thanks Kerfe!! 😊Secretly I AM trying to lure you all here so you’ll come sketch with me!! 😃👍🏻
The sculpture is amazing! I think this may be my favorite!
Thanks Kari! 😃Someday I’ll actually have to try drawing a real horse then! Hehe
Very cool Charlie, love the waterfall action and horses.
Thanks Sharon! Glad you like it! Wasn’t sure how this one would turn out! 😃❤️
Love your colors.
Thanks Kirk!! 😉
OMG!!! How did you draw that horse so well?!?! Please don’t tell me you sketched this in 10 minutes!!!! The status of the horse is amazing. The colors are amazing. YOU are amazing! Sheesh! Blowing me away!
Hmmm… Okay… it was 15 for this sketch 😊 hehe…but the doodlewash took an hour as I tried to figure out how to make water splash. Jodi, you’re so sweet. Thank you friend!! ❤️❤️😃
GRRR! I want to draw like that! But I want it to just happen! POOF! Now you are a good sketcher Jodi! Wouldn’t that be great! 🙂
That would be awesome!! But unfortunately it takes constant practice…😥Some days I’m not feeling it, but then I remember that I’ll keep getting better if I just make myself DO it!! Hehe
I want a POOF moment, but I guess I’ll just have to keep practicing 🙂
Yes! And thank you for just coining “Poof Moment”! Love it! Lol
I would never have guessed you had never drawn a horse or spraying water before! Holy moly, that is excellent!
Thanks Teresa! ❤️😃I’ve done fountains but with no real spray! Hehe…but this is my first doodlewash horse. Which technically still isn’t since it’s a sculpture of a horse, but close enough! 😉
Whatever you choose to call this, I call it marvelous! x
Most excellent Charlie! WOWZA! Very impressive! 😊🎨💜🌟🌀
Thank you so much my friend!!! ❤️😃Glad you liked this one!!
Fantastic! Beautiful horses, lovely fountain and great rendering of movement. The water looks so inviting I want to jump in the fountain and ride a horse…it looks like fun ;D.
Now that’s something to see Haunani!! Lol…thank you dear friend!! ❤️😃
Very nice Charlie. The horse is excellent and your captured the water.
Thanks so much Wayne! Really appreciate that!! 😃😃
I had no idea there are so many fountains in Kanas City! This is absolutely beautiful Charlie. I believe you can paint anything and everything! So very impressive!
Thanks Cathe!! ❤️😃I don’t know about anything and everything, but I’m certainly not afraid to try anymore!! 😉
Wow, this is wonderful!!! The horse looks gorgeous, and we all know how hard it is to draw or paint a horse!!! Great job!!! 😊🐎
Thanks!! Hehe…I actually had not idea whether horses were difficult or not, so maybe that helped!! 😊😊Glad you liked it!!
Woooooooh!!! Love this! Look at the transparency of water falling from fountain and horses just incredible!!! Great job done friend!
Thanks Snehal!!! ❤️😃 That makes me smile! There were so many new things in this sketch for me so I’m super happy you think it was successful my friend!!
Wow! You did a fantastic job with the J. C. Nichols Memorial Fountain! It would take me 10 tries to even come close.
Aww thanks, Sandra! 😃💕 I actually had to click on the link to see what you were talking about… hehe… those were such early days. I’m so happy you liked it!