| Author | Content |
Pagancat
(Sheryl) Gainesboro, TN
(Zone 6b)
October 21, 2009
09:33 PM Post #7195514
| I'm very new to watercolor and don't have a really good way to get information about what I'm supposed to be doing.
My biggest question right now is about underpainting. I've seen a couple of artists who do it, but it seems many do not. Is it what you're "supposed" to do?
Any info is appreciated! |
ge1836
Pittsford, NY
(Zone 6a)
October 24, 2009
05:49 AM Post #7202871
| I'm not sure what you mean by underpainting but the general rule is to paint from light to dark.
I put down a light wash where the lightest parts of the image will be, then let it dry and go back with more pigment or a darker glazeing.
The latest painting was done using contact paper.(Avery lables ,a whole sheet) where I dont want any paint at all, as in where the trees are.
Watercolor takes planning and some practice until your style emerges.
There are no set of RULES .
There are tons of books on how to paint with watercolor. I am self tought and haunted the book stores as well as garage sales or Amazon used books
This is the tree painting.
I put in the maple leaves first, let them dry and then put contact paper where I wanted the limbs and tree trunks to be.
The shadows and texture were added later.
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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Pagancat
(Sheryl) Gainesboro, TN
(Zone 6b)
October 24, 2009
10:24 AM Post #7203272
| Beautiful, ge.
I've started raiding the local Art Society library, but this is one of the subjects that a lot of books contradict each other on. The one guy I took a seminar with did underpainting - it's the opposite of how you do it, by putting in a Paynes gray or a purple wash in the areas that are going to be shadows, it's really just layering like you would do with oils.
Thanks for your response! |
roybird
Santa Fe, NM
October 24, 2009
10:03 PM Post #7205236
| Passing through...maybe on U Tube there would be some water color videos. Different artists use different techniques but the "classic" way I've heard is to go lean to fat, gradually building up thin layers of color. There is a liquid mask that one can use to keep areas white. It peels off like plastic and is applied with a brush. Good luck! |
ge1836
Pittsford, NY
(Zone 6a)
October 25, 2009
06:01 AM Post #7206011
| If you use liquid mask be sure to let it dry completely befor painting or trying to remove it.
It will also pull up paint if you mask over a color area. |
Pagancat
(Sheryl) Gainesboro, TN
(Zone 6b)
October 25, 2009
09:09 AM Post #7206237
| Ooo - that' s good to know - I was thinking you could use it like batik and mask places you already painted. Thanks! |
smileymom343
Kenmore, NY
(Zone 6a)
October 25, 2009
09:17 AM Post #7206252
| DH used to use something called frisket. you could put it down, paint, pull it up, cut...
kind of like contact paper, only much thinner and versatile. |
ge1836
Pittsford, NY
(Zone 6a)
October 25, 2009
09:34 AM Post #7206274
| Friskit is the same as mask.
I use the 8x10 sheets from AveryLables.
Its cheaper than the quart of friskit-mask it would take to block out a big area as in the trees.
I also put down saran wrap and tape and friskit when blocking out large areas for Painting iris that have such cut edges on the petals and falls |
smileymom343
Kenmore, NY
(Zone 6a)
October 25, 2009
09:38 AM Post #7206279
| I saw your paintings, they're beautiful! |
ge1836
Pittsford, NY
(Zone 6a)
October 25, 2009
09:41 AM Post #7206289
| thanx |
jmp24
Medford, NJ
October 29, 2009
11:35 AM Post #7220372
| I think one of the best things about watercolor is the luminousity - if you have an underpainting, you lose that, you want pure color on white paper. When I have to do background, I use masking fluid to keep some space clean/white.
Another thing about watercolor is that you need to do a bit more planning and thinking before touching brush to paper. It can be an unforgiving medium, not easy to cover or change mistakes!
And as always, the quality of your materials is important. Good paper, good paint, and the best brushes you can afford make a huge difference. |
ge1836
Pittsford, NY
(Zone 6a)
October 29, 2009
11:43 AM Post #7220398
| I absolutly agree. |
jmp24
Medford, NJ
October 29, 2009
12:40 PM Post #7220589
| Obviously you do, ge1836, which is why your paintings are luminous and full of light! I am not much good at watercolor myself, though I love the medium and wish I could be better at it. You are so right about books, though I was lucky to be sent to art school by my parents from when I was 8yrs old up to 16 yrs, alot of what I learned later came from books. The school I went to was affiliated with the Acadamy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia, so my early education was very classical, which gave me a great foundation - but the things you can learn from books are amazing. Also, I found that copying paintings that I liked also helped me to learn different mediums. Especially soft pastel. My first few paintings, I was clueless. Finally, I got a book from the library and decided to try to copy a few of the paintings in it - and went on from there. Of course, one does not want to try to sell a copied painting, I am advocating this for learning purposes only!
As for books, in this case PaganCat is lucky, seems there are more books on watercolor painting than any other medium...
PS - the suggestion someone else made about YouTube is a great one, nothing better than watching someone else paint. Just go to youtube.com and type "watercolor tutorial" in the search box - there will be dozens of videos. You just scan thru them till you find one that looks like it might be helpful for the style you wish to work in.
This message was edited Oct 29, 2009 12:42 PM |
ge1836
Pittsford, NY
(Zone 6a)
October 29, 2009
01:36 PM Post #7220740
| I have also taken Painting workshops.One weekenders as well as a full week in Maine with an artist.
I learned to let go of preconsieved ideas about what I wanted a painting to look like.
I choose a subject matter and compose the painting based on it and go from there.
I have been painting for 15 years, and learn something new everytime I see another painting style that interests me..
Keep practicing and be patient.
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Pagancat
(Sheryl) Gainesboro, TN
(Zone 6b)
October 29, 2009
08:46 PM Post #7222109
| That's the hard part, really - I just had two pretty awful pieces and I'm wondering if I should just go back to what I'm good at! It seems like I do well when I'm in a class, but on my own, not so much. |
ge1836
Pittsford, NY
(Zone 6a)
October 30, 2009
05:48 AM Post #7223047
| practice
practice
practice |
Pagancat
(Sheryl) Gainesboro, TN
(Zone 6b)
October 30, 2009
09:16 AM Post #7223365
| LOL - I know, and don't be a baby, right... |
ge1836
Pittsford, NY
(Zone 6a)
October 30, 2009
11:45 AM Post #7223728
| Just remember your paper cutter or matknife is your best friend.
If you finish something and dont like it, turn it to the wall for a week and look at it again to see where it can be fixed
OR
if it still looks horrible ,cut it up and start over or just move on. |
Rusty56
Jasper Co., MO
(Zone 6a)
October 31, 2009
08:46 AM Post #7226750
| Here's the link about how to paint with watercolors:
http://www.watercolorpainting.com/watercolor-tutorials.htm
Tree:
http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/how-to-paint-watercolor...
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