Painting 33

Watercolor.--- Bold watercolor

Drawing & Transferring

1. Draw or sketch the elements of your composition on tracing paper.

2. Refine the drawing and composition making sure that there are no drawing errors.
3. Transfer the drawing onto watercolor paper. There are various methods of4. Refine the drawing on with a 2H pencil and add any small details. Make sure the
drawing has precise clean lines. Minimize erasing on watercolor paper as it tends to roughen the surface and cause damage to the paper.
5. Use a kneaded eraser to lift/blot the tone of the pencil so the line is visible but not too dark.

Mixing Color

Before painting, it is important to mix the colors FIRST!

1. Start by squeezing out a generous amount of paint into each compartment or well of your palette.

2. Add a few drops of water to each color. The paint should be the consistency of heavy cream. If 2 or more colors are to be mixed together to create a new color start by mixing in a separate well. Start with the lightest color first and then gradually add the darker colors to the mix.
3. Test a small swatch of paint on a scrap piece of watercolor paper and let dry.
4. If you are starting with a palette that already has a lot of paint in it, use a wáter bottle and spray the palette to rehydrate the paints.

The 1st Layer of Paint

This watercolor technique works differently than other methods because the paint is applied in a thick layer, working from dark to light.

1. Establish where the darkest parts of the painting are, and drop a heavy amount of paint in this area. Avoid areas where you want to have highlights. The wáter acts as a vehicle for the paint. It travels across the watery surface. When done properly the result is a graduated wash from dark to light.

2. Let the paint settle into the paper. If the paint is moved around too early, it creates a muddy over worked effect.
3. When the surface of the paper changes from a shimmer to a semi-matte appearance, "sculpt" the area. Paint can be added, moved, pushed or removed at this stage. The moisture level in the brush should always be the same as the paper. If the brush is wetter, a bloom will occur. A bloom is where pigment gathers at the perimeter of the wetter area, leaving a lighter area in the middle.
Remove unwanted color with a paper towel to avoid adding paint to other places as you move the paint around.
 

4. Let the paint dry. Do not over work! It is easy fuss at this point. Don't touch it!

Let it dry. Go to another section of the painting and repeat the same process.
 

The 2nd Layer of Paint

1. Evaluate the dry area. Is it too light? Too dark? The wrong color? This is the time to correct and make adjustments.

2. Mix or remix paint to correct the painting.
3. Apply water over the entire section (make sure the paper is dry) in the same manner as before. Do not use as much water as the first layer. Do not press heavily on the surface. Avoid lifting the existing color or disturbing it.
4. Apply color in the area that needs the correction. Sculpt or move the paint as needed.
5. Let the area dry and move to another section.
 

Applying Details & Cleaning up the Edges

1. For edges that are wobbly, I use the chisel brush to gently remove or clarify the edge. It is important to keep the fibers in brush aligned. I use the brush sideways and slightly moist. Clean brush whenever paint is removed so paint doesn't travel to an unwanted area.

2. Using a small spotter brush apply details using a dry brush technique. The paper is dry and the paint is moist enough to flow paint onto the surface without clumping or being too wet. Test the consistency on a scrap piece of paper.
 

Apply a Glaze

Glazing is a term used for applying a very thin, transparent wash of watercolor over an exisiting layer or layers of dry watercolor. The watercolor layers underneath shine through the glaze when applied properly.

1. Use a small cup, baby food jar or similar and place a small amount of transparent watercolor in the bottom. Begin adding water. The paint should be the consistency of tea. You should be able to see through it.
2. Using a large round brush over a DRY surface, gently and quickly apply the glaze mixture over the area in one stroke if possible. The more the color is moved it around the more it may lift the dry layer up. The glaze should sit on top of the surface.
3. Let it dry. Evaluate and reapply if necessary.

These are the basic steps for creating a bold watercolor. Remember to use LOTS of Paint!
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