Painting 33

Ref 1084; Watercolor.- Scratching & Scraping in a watercolor surface

Looking for the ways to make part of the painting interesting to develop unique lines, shapes, marks and textures,  I did this easy exercise from where I like to share some interesting tips and/or experiences.

This is the result of this practice

Materials needed;
Cold press paper 240 gr
Plastic card ( cut in different ways to manipulate the paper surface)
Drywall sandpaper grit 100
watercolor set (colors referred within the steps)
permanent White (gouache)
round brushes / fan brush
absorbent paper

Step 1.- PRACTICE.- I cut old credit cards with a variety of different edges .- the brush apply the color but this new tool will provide lines, digs, scratches,-- surfaces marks vary greatly with the amount of pressure applied, surface complexity can be developed by laying a colored wash over a dry scratched surface and scratching or scrumbling into it.
Over scratch paper I previusly did some tests in the top background color is ligther tan in the bottom, after wait for dry the first lay I applied same color to check in results to scratch with the plastic tool

 

Also I tested what if;   I use watercolor pencil , wet and scratch

 

 

Best contrast was obtained with a background with a first layer darker,

1st Step.- in order  to make a better contrast of the scrapped gold meadow I´ll paint a thundercloud in the horizon for practical purposes so in a wet paper I´ll drop in the center a mix of ultramarine blue / yellow ochre / payne´s grey and tilt the paper from the center towards the edges, in the horizon the color should be darker so into the same mix I added red crimson in addition

to add some clouds just lift some color with an absorbent paper here and there

As underpainting for the meadow same initial mix plus violet lifting color with an absorbent paper (to avoid original White color paper) and some shadows (payne´s grey) quite diluted added with brush

 

 

 

 

 

2nd Step.- I chose médium yellow and hooker´s Green for some foreground spots. which I scrapped to conform several lines in a selected windy direction, if you want to add figures and/or any additional element is better to work with masking fluid I didn´t because I plan to work with darker colors in a figure by the end, however instead  I try to avoid addition of  color at that part

The scraped lines are short but with same color everything looks similar in the painting at this moment 

 

 

3rd Step.- In a loosy way the figures are added with violet (fine round brush) opposite color in the colorwheel for yellow to conform the shadow base, sky color reinforced again in the horizon and lines scraped in wet condition to have a mix at the distance and make suggestive texture

 

 

4th Step.- With the plastic card tool, in 90° direction apply ligther yellow´s colors mixes to form suggesting áreas through the painting distances  and start to give 3D perspective with warmest colors at the foreground and coolest color (darkers at the meadows background) this will break in different hues and in a better color perspective

And also you´ll see ligther colors in the scratches making more random colors (this is wet on dry)

 

 

5th Step.- I added more watercolor figure definition and hooker´s Green shadows at the foreground scratching every time I apply that color 

 

 

6th Step.- As there is some windy condition I need to créate that atmosphere by grinding (very gently) the sky paper surface with drywall sandpaper in same direction as the meadow suggest

 

 

7th Step.- Now the ligth reflections, with a fine brush make more lines (more at the foreground) and scratch again accordingly (probably will be better if you rub soap bar,  over the meadow to break even more the White lines added .--- I didn´t do it but probably will enhance the texture)

 

 

8th Step.- I reinforced  a Little bit with more color where I need it and add permanent White in the sky suggesting the sun fading with an absorbent paper through the different edges

 

 

9th Step.-  ( Optional Step ) with wáter spray and absorbent paper I lifted color because the deep lines will show up more easily at the bottom and because the sky become dirtier after my first grinder operation leaving darker spots into the paper grain,  after do that I grinding again leaving a ethereal lighter color suggestion more uniform

Like I said I repeat this part of the process because I didn´t take care first time so It is better to practice in a scratch paper evrything you need

 

                                

                          "Who looks outside dreams, looks outside awakes"