Painting 33

Ref 1013.- Watercolor & Gouache // Mixed combination

Gouache is the opaque versión of watercolor, is sometimes used on its own for small highlights , but it can also be mixed with watercolor to make a semi-opaque paint, that retains much of translucency of pure watercolor but does not have the chalky quality typical of gouche itself. I have to do it cause the paper I use it is silver colored and is not so much absorbent

This is the result of this process

As this is my first time with this cardboard paper I´m making some previous tests mixing on the paper, a lively mixture can be created by letting the colors blend on the paper surface, rather tan mixing them in the palette, although they do not mix so throughly each color retains its identity.
However by the result I could see the lack of covering power or lack of pigmentation

1st step; Base on previous results I decided to mix watercolor with gouache so let´s work on the underpainting first so as I thinking to do White flowers I´ll need to contrast it, the source light comes from left side so my watercolors are the transparent ones and in the dark I´ll apply darkers colors mixed with gouache to créate a semi-opaque base - to do that; I´m mixing with it´s gouache same or similar color counterpart, the violet and blue hues to make the darkest color I mixed ultramarine blue with Brown (for all background I´m looking fro transparency so it is more watercolor than gouache 2:1aprox)

2nd step .- Now it comes the tricky part to highlight White watercolor, the flower base is more White watercolor than White gouache, so I apply it, in a random but harmonized way
Note in this photograph  you can see a dotted background condition, this was posible spraying wáter over the paint (just a Little bit and let it dry completely, basically over dark zones to créate a transparent atmosphere touch)

 

3rd Step.- .- To ceate a more misty effect I added more watercolor White and spray wáter again and I lift some painting with an absorbent tissue

 

 

4rt Step.- I reinforce with some additional colors (watercolors) part of the background as a glazing

While White color (White watercolor to White guache 1:1)of the flower dries in a misty and/or faded way

 

 

5th Step.- Till now I´m working with round brush but next finish part will be with a mop brush, because now I´ll be painting just with White gouache to conform each of the flowers  with more highlight color and definition

 

 

 

6st Step.- with a fine brush I define some branches

 

 

7th Step.- I complete some additional contrasts here and there until be satisfied