Ref 1110.- Watercolor applied with spatula

Graphical sequence in how to do it;

This is the result regarding this technic

One paper I like to use for its resistance is Stardream colored paper 105 lbs.- I chose aquamarine color for this Project
Watercolor is applied in a loose way to conform main elements to work with (blue and violet)

Modeling paste is the element needed to be able to apply watercolor with spatula.- In that way the color added can shine a Little bit more tan if were added with brush, so I´ll be adding just into the background sky and lake reflections

 
Undergoing activity with just spatula,

Then color for background forest and shadowing with brush

Finally wáter addition to soften either with just wáter or with color quite diluted and integrated with absorbent color lift up paper technic

                                                                    "Cold days warm hearts"

I have pending Works which I´ll post here to start New Year with new fresh activities


Ref 1111

Ref 1114

Ref 1117.- Watercolor pencil as underpainting

Watercolor pencils, look same as regular colored pencils, and can be used the same way, the magic happens when wáter be added, causing them to behave like watercolor paint.
This will be the result after start with watercolor pencils

Reference is a picture taken from the web
Materials needed are indicated through the easy following steps

Paper is Stardream silver colored paper of 105 lbs, is not precisely made for watercolor but Works pretty good due it´s resistance and some of it´s properties
I sketched the figure regarding my photograph reference

1st Step.- Color your drawing by layering colors, and then paint over the área with a brush and plain wáter (most common way to paint with watercolor pencils)
Tip 1.- I recommend you brush the ligther áreas first as you don´t want to brush darker áreas of the painting
That will be my underpainting sketching to work from now on,  just with round brushes
Tip 2.- Some edge dark lines are made with graphite pencil for undergoing work reference  as eyes, ears, ornaments,- contourn

Consider colors will look different after wáter is added ( so it´s generally a good idea to make a chart on a piece of same paper to see how colors looks after wet
Step 2.- In this particular case I not just added wáter but watercolor as apply the brush to reinforce in a darker tone the red color so I used cad red deep hue from Winsor & Newton and to make orange tonalities I added a dab of lemon yellow hue mainly where the ligth suppose to hit in the hat

 

Eyes are main context so take care and define it as much as posible, I did use cerulean blue and once is dry added White  quite diluted to conform ligth reflections integrating color with absorbent paper as color is applied to fade values

Around the eyes and darker spots are made with Payne´s grey, fading away with burn umber blending with color pencil underneath, giving us the hair appearance we need for, while is still wet with a plastic card make ligther lines to suggest some long hairs as you can see through the following picture

 



Once dry we can work with more details and definitions, I like this type of paper because I can work the White color in a more easy way making also a good contrast with silver color paper, For White I prefer to use permanent White - gouache which is opaque and quite shiny so I added in accordance its hair radial distribution  (for the mouth I did use skin color, wich now will be partially covered for the White color accordingly

Tip 3.- Gouache color can be reactived with a Little bit of wáter addition and then pull color with my plastic card to conform long cat whiskers, and do not worry if you make a mistake because once again is dry you can add red color as negative technique To make the hairs thinner and delineated

 

 

"Christmas Season"

Bonus painting; Watercolors pencils also can be used on top of a watercolor painting to add design and fine details

Ref 1118; Watercolor with --> fluorescent marker wáter-base as underpainting



A vibrant colors effect can be achieved within a painterly effect:
 Color in, with fluorescent markers as first color then apply second color using cross hatch strokes to achieve coverage and a textured effect.To blend colors: (Use colors over one another just while wet). Other tools such as soft paintbrushes or cotton swabs can be used to blend. Then allow extra time for blended colors to dry completely.
This is the result to apply this particular painterly effect technic:

Main materials referred within steps 
Step 1.- I did use soluble graphite pencil to sketch main reference lines, which 2 purposes a).- do not leave pencil lines by the end and b).- get some dark shadowing when it blends with watercolor paint in particular spots as it become wet (tip; do not overdue)

 

2nd Step.- Always plan ahead ligth source and ligth reflections to save white color as much as possible .- As my painting size is not so big and will be many reflections I use a toothpick to help me out (tip; you can dilute masking fluid 1:1 to make it more manageable)

3a Step:- There are many fluorescent markers brands in the market, I did use Foray, to suggest highligth city ligths along the distance city contourn

3b).- step .- Before fluorescent markers application  you need to have ready a watercolor pool ready to use, (I did prepare in advance yellow médium and Payne´s grey 60% + violet 40%  blend for shadowing ) The only color you need at this stage is yellow medium as son as fluorescent marker be applied blend whatever you need when still wet

As you can see through out this picture try to blend as much as posible to get the fading effect needed
Then let it dry througly before darker colors be applied
Note; Dab tip of marker on scratch paper to clean colors

4th Step.- Now work your watercolor as usual (my case from background to foreground, from top to bottom)
colors employed dabs of carmín, orange cobalt blue for sky violet and Payne´s grey, you need to work with the lifting out technique (while still wet wipe over with paper towel to fade and integrate clouding colors, at the foreground I did use more Payné´s grey and violet Note I did use to much soluble pencil and form some lumps which I had to lift out without any particular necessity)

 

5th Step I took away the masking fluid first from above the wáter to apply a yellowish color over it
then after let it dry again (all the paint) I took away all the masking fluid and started to define with a fine round and angular small brush the different shapes
(Tip use the angular brush along with a flexible rubber ruler to make precise lines, Works pretty good for the highway and suggested docks across the river )

 

Bonus painting ref 1117

Same technic was applied in the following painting, I did use red and Green fluorescent markers as underpainting, however the color applied above wasn´t blended when it was wet) I added a dark Green + ultramarine blue lifted it out with wet crumpled newspaper where first it was lay dawn a wash of Payne´s grey then pressing in,  the newspaper into the color holding it out for about one minute to allow the best absorption to take place, when you lift out the newsprint leaves a vivid fractured imprint giving a natural looking pattern of ligth and shadows for sharp features the final transparencies let show the vivid color of the fluorescent markers underneath 

(Tip use analogous color for better results)

In the case of the red color I lay down also watercolor red color above lifting it out randomly

 

Hope you like all these experiences and I´m taking advantage to wish you Merry Christmas and a happy New year  through out this painting  of the Christmas poinsettia plant, with its kindly red flame leaves

 

Ref 1108; 1109 First exercises with decalcomania painting technic

Decalcomania is a process of spreading thick paint upon the painting then—while it is still wet—covering it with further material such as paper or aluminium foil. This covering is then removed (again before the paint dries), and the resultant paint pattern becomes the basis of the finished painting

Ref 1108.- "The tattooed hand, just ripped my watercolor paper"
watercolor first exercise with; decalcomania art technique for paper texturization (details will be provided once process be adequate)

 

Ref 1109.- 2nd exercise with the help of modeling paste within the process steps

over Stardream colored paper