Ref 1056; Watercolor, watercolor pencil & diluted ink (My first experimental approach)

This time I´m testing a wáter soluble ink (SERRA brand) to include within this watercolor painting, basically for shadowing with the help of a cotton moistened with this particular mixture (no toxic solvents are necessary and once it sets is not reactivated by wáter, which is a big plus

Probably the theme is not interesting however the method seems to me, it is so I´d like to share with all of you 


                                       "painting of a happiness tear"

Material needed for this project;
Stardream Litmus color paper
Watercolor pencils; watercolor tubes; permanent white gouache; round brushes; burn sienna & Brown wáter soluble ink, cotton and absorbent paper

1st. Step.-- As this was my first intent I had some lesson´s learnt so I started with watercolor pencil as my main lines guidance (do not overdo this initial step)

2nd Step.-  As I´m applying lines I´m wetting them to conform the idea,

I was trying to shadowing but watercolor needs many layers to do it, that´s why the wáter soluble ink Works pretty good in such cases, and also this paper is not quite absorbent so I tried to avoid these isolated spots that you can see in the following picture

3rd Step.- I did a puddle of diluted ink with Brown and burn sienna which I apply with a cotton into the painting main shadows fading it with additional wáter. the results are very interesting and Works quickly (extra care is needed to avoid paint in places you don´t need to)

My first ink wáter dilution was too big but allows me to work Little by Little until be satisfy

 

4th Step.- Once completely dry I started to play with watercolor pencil again trying to conform some details, fading again with a moistened brush and/or covering with watercolor brushing, I cover again with diluted ink  this part can be made, the times you needed however extra care is needed to avoid disturb colors below so I think is better to use ink just one time as base of the final watercolor pencil which was one of my main lesson´s learnt, nevertheless I had a good time and I hope you like to try those new products

By the way the hapiness tears came from the heart not from the mind

 

 

 

Ref 1055 .- Watercolor over Sapphire color paper - The importance of the brush movement and flow within a painting 

Exercise; The ideais to take adavantage of the blue base color paper
Then working just with permanent White gouache, ---- the rest (figures) are in watercolor;.-  To give additional values to the movement of the wáter also I added light blue on it, around the figures through out the jump


                                 "Winning is not eveything; but wanting to win is"

Initial stage

Dark color of the figures is ultramarine  blue + orange + burnt umber

Spraying wáter break and reactivate the painting gouache lines above the figures on this paper, making easy to flow the brush accordingly.- this is the moment to work with the brush until be satisfied
and then  add light to the figures with a mix of cerulean blue + orange

Ref 1054.- Watercolor // Watercolor over stardream Mars color paper

An easy Project which require as material
Stardream "Mars color" paper 105Lb (Note: This particular paper is not precisely made for watercolor but works fine; following the next steps, and we take advantage of its base color for our purposes)
Colors needed;
rosa madder; lemon yellow; ultramarine blue; violet; indigo blue in watercolor
permanent white in gouache
Round brushes
Derwent graphitone very dark wash 8B

1st Step.- For the figures I did use pencil for the rest of guiding lines I did use Derwent graphitone 8B; which dilutes with wáter and form the dark underpainting I´m looking for, The round brush I´m using is in some way hard to draw also with it 
The black color of this pencil reactivates every time you add waterso keep in the áreas needed

2nd Step.- The color scheme here is a simple one, based on the contrast of the colors indicated, I applied the yellow mark, to give me a reference in how I need to play with my colors at the sky
As you can see only the pencil lines of the figures still are indicated within the paper .- Note now my brush is softer because I´m just adding color with wáter trying not to disturb dark colors below

3rd Step, let it dry as you progress and have fun adding colors without fear
Now some dark watercolors start to be added to define forms

 

4th Step .- Final definition The permanent White of gouache gives light so I mixed sometimes to give more values accordingly.- nevertheless the color Wheel is quite importanto to muted secondaries, the primary colors farthest apart créate more muted mixtures, which could be useful for crating shadows

 

WELL HOPE YOU LIKE IT;

 

                    "I want to be your favorite hello and your hardest goodbye"

 

 

Now a series of pictures of a painting I didn´t like at all but which process was interesting just for the record ref 1053 I did repeat some process twice due I wasn´t satisfied

 

 

 

Ref 1052;.- Another fail .- Because I didn´t paint the background first and I screw it up by the end

MIXED MEDIA.- Modeling paste, graphitone & gouache as underpainting highlighted with acrylic painting over Stardream silver color paper

Ref 1051.- Watercolor // "Experimental exercise" over Stardream Sapphire color paper
Notes:
Trying to take advantage of the paper original dark color
Experimenting what is better; a).-gouache and/or diluted gouache to paint above with watercolor or b).- watercolor mixed with gouache for medium values (in this case the light blue) and works better the first (a)
Underpainting is black graphitone pencil to start defining main shapes

 

Ref 1050; Watercolor highlighted with pastel over Stardream litmus color paper

Ref 1049.- Watercolor// texturizing mostly with an old toothbrush
                                   over Stardream silver color paper

 Experimenting with this type of paper the following Project involves  a splatter technique through different areas.  It’s a technique almost uncontrollable but gives a sense of mystery and overall highlight to the painting process. 
Spattering can´t be controlled easily, so it is better to mask with torn paper, however I found that in this type of paper it is easy to dissolve painting drops and lift out with an absorbent paper so I didn´t
This is the result of this new Project

1.- As I´m experimenting I tried the use of graphitone to sketch basic reference lines (the graphite of this pencil is wáter soluble so doesn´t leave pencil lines at the end and also contribuite to build up shadows, I did sketch in a loosy way taking care of the perspective

 

2.- by past experiences with silver color I reinforce the brushing wáter addition;  with black color to form most of the shadows I´ll need

 

 

 

3.- This type of paper it doesn´t work like the watercolor paper (absorbent) it is in some way waterproof at the begining but litle by litle  as start to moisten, accept the watercolor, nevertheless you can take advantage to work with textures and if you are not pleased you can try it again without disturb it.- Then with a plastic scourer before the paint dry I starting to add some texturization for foliage

4.- At this stage you can do all stains (shades) that you need and also wipe over with and absorbent paper . start to form what you´ll need and are planing trough your head

 

 

5.- Next, dip an old tooth brush in desired paint and with your thumb flick the paint onto the paper.  I worked closer to the paper to try and get full coverage of the paint.  I first used primary colors (yellow in this particular case) and also I did use a fine brush to cover all I wanted

 

This is so much fun! Wet the toothbrush, then dip it in a color, practice in a scratch paper  and then  run your finger on the toothbrush so the splatters end up in the area you want. After the yellow splatters, repeat with another colors!

6.-Aim the toothbrush bristles at your paper..- rub your finger against the bristles and spray the paint on the paper. Use a paintbrush to complete your picture - if you want. now was green

 

7.- Now black 

 

8.- Now White (this color in particular is gouache) With this color you need to take care of perspective so integrate just the wáter drops far in the distance with an absorbent paper to fade the color a Little bit and avoid 2D appearance

9.- the puddle of water on the road is the only one with vertical and faded brushe-strokes to suggest reflection

10.- Now with payne´s grey, start to worh with all details once underpainting is completely dry and I start with the boy figure in the place already reserved for him

 

11.- Final touches; the White again is the color that brings 3D and live to the painting - do it careful and above all enjy and have fun

 

 

"Chilhood, Playing After the Rain"
Adulthood; Again playing but now with a rain drops of watercolor paint, thrown with a toothbrush; over Stardream silver color paper

 

Ref 1048 // Watercolor & Water Soluble Graphite Pencil

I combine the use of Graphitone a wáter soluble pencil, which is a slim stick of pure artist-quality graphite combined with premium clays, graphitone can enhance a lot the project.
Use it like a usual pencil for excellent detail or unwrap the easy to peel paper and set the graphitone on its side for broad strokes. Because it is watersoluble, graphitone can be used for line and wash drawings.
The paper for this Project it is Stardream litmus color paper

And this is the painting result:

Reference HDR technique photo.
 (is a technique used to reproduce a greater dynamic range of luminosity)

I began with a graphitone drawing placing main objects in order to define the proper perspective but a this point I was not worried about getting these elements exactly rigth;  knowing that refinements would take place in subsequent steps, so I´m careful to preserve shapes, sizes and specially the perspective

The litmus effect of the paper it is seen through out the painting steps, the light came from the top so the tone looks different when the photo is taken;

 

 

2.- Step.- The painting is the reinforced with Payne´s Grey where the graphitone will be diluted with the brush humidity along with the watercolor, given different shadow´s effects to be controlled accordingly

 

3.- I chose to work from left to right, using changes of values for shape suggestions, allowing the viewer´s imagination to fill in the rest, due lot of details, I´m creating texture, correcting color, increasing the value near to bottom adding just shadows with this only color

4.- When satisfied I added (ochre + médium yellow) to refresent light zones, (4a) which will be integrated by lifting color with an absorbent paper (4b)

(4a).-

(4b).-

 

5.- The painting came to live when I add the permanent White color (gouache), the illumination obtained within this color paper Works pretty good, This color is integrated with additional wáter once has been brushed in, basically to give the fading effect 

 

6.- Final touches.- In order to make a better contrast, the graphitone pencil Works again well -- adding the color shadows and wet accordingly.- hope you like this experimental technique

the place is:

 

                  "Bisbe Street Bridge, Gothic Quarter - Barcelona Spain"