Canteen- Day 2

Day 2- Today I am working on the canteen from the flagbearer watercolor of the previous day. Staying hydrated is important, whether you are the bearer of the colors or just painting. During the Civil War, trendy water jugs with fancy insulation hadn’t been made yet. Canteens made of stamped tin, wood, or leather were the norm. It has a cork stopper held on by chain or cord. To protect the container and keep it cool the canteen is wrapped in a fabric, wool or other fabric is used. The standard issue canteen of the Union held about 1 1/2 quarts of water. This is approximately 2 pounds worn across the chest and to the left side like a sling. It usually hangs down at hip level, and is positioned behind the haversack.

Filling in the Canteen

The canteen the flagbearer is wearing is covered in a blue wool similar to the one his pants are made from. It has small tears in the outward facing side, presumably from wear and tear on the battlefield. To repair it, the flagbearer will need to break out his housewife, a poorly named sewing kit.

The colors of the canteen are Cerulean Blue, Burnt Sienna and Gray. Here, I used the Cerulean Blue as the base color. I then added a wash of the Ultramarine Blue from the Sack Coat to create form. In the strap, I used a mix of Burnt Sienna and Ivory Black to show the dinginess of the cotton. The once shiny strap loops of tin are now matte. Here, I used Ivory Black to create a light gray.

The overall picture

All colors within a painting work together to create harmony. I filled in the Sack Coat, The Haversack and the Trousers as they are around the canteen.

I hope to work on the flag tomorrow, and get this flagbearer ready for his debut.

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