Honestly, I stumbled into this witch painting rabbit hole last Tuesday afternoon. See, my cousin’s kid was blasting some fantasy movie trailer, yelling about "cool magic ladies," and boom – I started wondering about real artists painting those iconic witches we all picture.
Starting Simple, Getting Swamped
First, I just typed "famous witch paintings" into the search bar. Holy cats, the avalanche! Hundreds of artists, styles all over the place – dark Gothic stuff, bubbly cartoonish ones, even abstract swirls. Felt like trying to drink from a firehose. My coffee went cold while I scrolled, feeling totally lost.
Narrowing It Down & Grabbing Examples
I took a breath and focused on just five names that kept popping up like crazy. Made a messy spreadsheet – yeah, old school, but it works:
- Goya: Waded through his creepy, moody stuff like "Witches' Sabbath." That dude loved rough, dark strokes – barely any smooth lines. Felt like nightmares on canvas.
- Waterhouse: Total opposite! His "Magic Circle" witch is all dreamy and smooth. Seriously, the fabric in her robe looks soft enough to touch. Studied how he layered thin colors like frosting to get that glow.
- Dürer: Freaked me out with those crazy detailed engravings. "The Witch" has textures carved so fine you’d think they’re real. Tried sketching with my finest pen – nope, not even close. Dude was a machine.
- Fini: Her surreal witches? Wild. Leaned heavy on weird poses and symbols. The brushwork’s kinda heavy, almost slap-it-on thick in some spots. Messed around on scrap paper trying to copy that vibe.
- Bilibin: For folk tale charm? Nailed it. Used clear black outlines like comic books and colors brighter than a candy store. Made me feel like a kid again.
Playing with Techniques
Couldn’t just read about it – had to get my hands dirty. Dug out my cheap watercolors and played with Waterhouse’s layering trick. First attempt looked like muddy dishwater, honestly. Thinned it way down, did like five light washes – suddenly, the cloak started glowing! Total "aha!" moment. Then flipped to Goya’s style with my oil pastels, scratching and smudging like crazy to get that messy, shadowy feel. Felt like finger painting in the dark, but fun.
What Stuck With Me
The big takeaway? No "right" way to paint witches. Goya chucks paint like he’s angry, Waterhouse brushes like he’s whispering, Dürer carves like a surgeon. Each nailed the vibe with wildly different tricks. Kinda humbling, honestly. Also, keeping brushes cleaner than I normally do? Absolute game-changer for those soft layers.
Anyway, it started with a kid’s trailer and ended with me elbow-deep in paint rags. Wild how obsessions begin. Might try blending Goya’s shadows with Waterhouse’s glow next weekend – see what cursed masterpiece emerges.
