Momma Bear in Spring
Momma Bear was inspired by the sale of one of my favorites "Wild Horses in Aspen". All watercolors are painted on heavy watercolor paper or in this case Arches watercolor board. Watercolor board in nice because you do not have to stretch it. (keep scrolling to see the stretching method) Paint is Windsor Newton. The pink is a liquid masque (Richeson Mediums) which will rub off later......leaving the white or "sparkle" of the painting. (All supplies are available at Dick Blick Online.) Remember......The white in watercolor is the paper showing through so it is important to keep some of the white. I try for a wide range of value (lightness vrs darkness) to create an interesting and lively painting. 3rd Photo shows blue painters tape representing aspen in the foreground. I would recommend taking pictures of your work and in the edit mode flipping the image to make sure it is balanced. You can also do this by looking at it with a mirror.
Wire Pass Slot Canyon
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"Wire Pass Slot Canyon" was inspired by a trip to Utah. I chose this photo because of the composition. You want a composition that honors the rule of thirds. (Google it to learn more). As an artist you must decide ahead of time a strategy on how to first gain the interest and then hold the interest of the viewer. You want the viewer's eye to travel around your painting and end on your focal point.
The paper is 300 lb arches cold press. Paints are winsor newton. I wet the back of the paper in my kitchen sink or bathtub and stretch it on a piece of 1/2 plywood. After wetting it, I place it on the wood panel and use a staple gun to staple the corners first gently stretching it as i staple. It will be wavy when wet, but allow it to dry over night and you will have a nice flat canvas! (Try doing a small painting first to get the hang of this)
Next I use blue painters tape to mask of the outside edge. This will be peeled away gently using a blow dryer after painting is done and completely dry to form a second white "mat" or border around the original before framing.
I mask off any area in the painting that needs to stay white. Any mask should be allowed to dry completely and be taken off the next day after the initial wash to prevent staining the paper. Next I do an initial wash of yellow ocher and let it dry over night. I keep building layers of color allowing them dry and changing water often.
As you can see from the set up image, I use a variety of watercolor brushes and also prismacolor watercolor pencils.
I would be glad to answer questions through my email [email protected] and encourage you to sign up for my newsletter for new arrivals and announcements.
"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up." ~ Pablo Picasso
The paper is 300 lb arches cold press. Paints are winsor newton. I wet the back of the paper in my kitchen sink or bathtub and stretch it on a piece of 1/2 plywood. After wetting it, I place it on the wood panel and use a staple gun to staple the corners first gently stretching it as i staple. It will be wavy when wet, but allow it to dry over night and you will have a nice flat canvas! (Try doing a small painting first to get the hang of this)
Next I use blue painters tape to mask of the outside edge. This will be peeled away gently using a blow dryer after painting is done and completely dry to form a second white "mat" or border around the original before framing.
I mask off any area in the painting that needs to stay white. Any mask should be allowed to dry completely and be taken off the next day after the initial wash to prevent staining the paper. Next I do an initial wash of yellow ocher and let it dry over night. I keep building layers of color allowing them dry and changing water often.
As you can see from the set up image, I use a variety of watercolor brushes and also prismacolor watercolor pencils.
I would be glad to answer questions through my email [email protected] and encourage you to sign up for my newsletter for new arrivals and announcements.
"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up." ~ Pablo Picasso