The word ‘mud’ comes up quite a lot when talking about watercolour painting. This rapid watercolour sketch of a chicken is all about avoiding mud…..
For those who are nervous of using good paper…allow yourself to play on newspaper, inexpensive wall paper lining, or anything else that might be at hand and I always suggest working on at least two pieces at once….four is better:)
Just begin – You will note that all the whites in this image are dry white paper.
If you are using a photograph – remember it is simply your ‘jumping off point’
View the colours and shapes of your subject – as if it were a jigsaw puzzle and remember there are no lines around Mother Nature… Everything is fluid…which is why watercolour is the perfect medium.
One very important technique I have used in this little demo is to take a clean wet brush – using it to tease paint out which is already on the paper. This gives an element of control and helps to keep the dry white paper areas.
Remember there are no mistakes in this fluid painting….allow the watercolour to perform its magic – and most importantly allow yourself to Play.
Watercolour/gouache magical hummingbird….Happy weekend…
A Bientôt.
Beautiful
Thank you very much Janet:)
Janet, you continue to amaze and inspire me! The chicken is such fun. I particularly enjoy when you show us these step by step posts. And thank you for making it possible for us to have a little something of your Zazzle site. http://www.zazzle.com/janet+weight+reed+gifts
Mega hugs my friend.
Good morning dear Teagan, Thank you so much for the lovely comment…..Thinking of you relaxing during the weekend…with kitty kats and magical hummers in place. Janet:)xx
Good morning dear Teagan…just read your blog (it’s Sunday the day I get time to catch up) and am so sad to hear that you have experienced some negativity. As someone, who has had to deal with so much of this throughout my life, although now at last it seems that things have quietened down, maybe because I am older…and people are more kind, but I do know how unkind things said often without any thought or intention can cause set backs. I loved reading the recent episode..and LOVE the Bubble theory and that drink…I want to make that immediately:) So my dear friend, take head, know that I am always here as well as the magical hummingbirds….Remember it is the ‘unseen’ magic in our world that really counts…something you clearly understand very well…Sending lots of hugs and love..janet. xxx
This is incredible and so much helpful advice. Sadly despite a line of distant relatives in the past who were quite well known artists the genes have bypassed me altogether, but three of our five children are very artistic. Our 16 year old daughter in particular has inherited her grandmother’s talent, she is an absolute natural, I shall show this to her when she comes home from school, she sketches and paints at every given opportunity. If you come to this part on your travels, I would so love you to come over I would love to meet you. Susan xx
Good morning Susan, thank you for this lovely comment. I hope that Susan finds the tips in this post helpful…and yes, when I do come to your part of France, I would love to come and visit. I always travel with my paints and so would be happy to do some painting with Susan:) Hope you are enjoying a relaxing weekend. janet.xx
Nice post, Janet! Enjoy the weekend.
Thank you – hope you are enjoying a lovely weekend…janet:)
Colourful…indeed! Daringly so! Have a ‘colourful week-end’. Hugs! ❤
Thank you, Bushka…Hope you are enjoying a lovely weekend, – with a more autumnal feel….Janet:)xx
Thanks Janet. Yes rather mild even warm and sunny. Lovely. Hope you having a good one. Hugs. ❤️
Great! I like the last one the most!
Thank you..hope you are enjoying a very creative weekend…Janet:)
I did! Thanks Janet! Hope you had a great weekend, too!
colorful and a wonderful hint of abstract, which I love. I agree, just get in there and don’t be afraid of the white paper. There is nothing like good watercolor paper, I am finicky and must paint on the “good stuff” I know a lot of people use cheaper paper in sketchbooks but I just can’t deal with the quality of paper. At least with failed paintings, you can turn it over. 🙂 wonderful post!
Good morning Margaret, So true about good watercolour paper…when I depart this Zone and go to the next…I am hoping that I have an endless supply of watercolour paper/paints brushes, etc.:) I do use cheaper paper in my sketchbooks, which I find very freeing in many ways…and of course when I play, I’ll use anything I can get my hands on. When I give workshops, especially life painting, I always suggest that for the first hour, people work on newspaper…regardless of medium. What’s always so interesting is that their work on the newspaper is often the best of the day, because they were relaxed…no fear of messing up good paper, etc. However, you are a naturally free painter…and so hope you are doing a lot of that this weekend. Janet:)
Hmm…..I might try it out just to see if I can get looser or dynamic but I am wondering if I’ll be disappointed because I am a paint to paper junkie, I love to see the interaction between the two and I might miss it! But it warrants a try.
If used only for warm up purposes…it doesn’t matter the outcome is…but I do believe that the warm up with then follow through onto the good paper….Happy painting.
Such helpful suggestions. When I get some time that isn’t a searching for the perfect kitchen bin and the like, I shall follow them digitally. Keep smiling and have a glorious weekend! xx (Actually, I’ve found the perfect bin – a Brabantia that actually works when you put your foot on the pedal and shuts slowly instead of with a clang!)
Good morning, Sarah – Your Brabantia bin sounds fantastic, because so often they don’t seem to work. When you get settled, and it will take time, then you can set up a place in your cottage for watercolour painting…and when I get visit we can do some painting together:) Hope you are enjoying a lovely weekend…janet. xx
You’re on! xx
These are gorgeous, Janet. I love your choice of colors! 🙂
Thank you so much – I always appreciate your comments..hope you are enjoying a lovely weekend..janet:)
You’re welcome, Janet. And it is my pleasure. I hope you are, too! 🙂
Your colors are always so vibrant and fresh! Beautiful. (K)
Thank you, K…I really appreciate your comments….Colour is the spice of life….hope you are enjoying a lovely weekend…janet. x
Thanks Janet, I did have a good weekend. And yes, indeed, the spice of life.
My original comment disappeared: new tablet. Hope it’s not going to keep screwing up! Love this tutorial in mud avoidance! I may actually get out my watercolors and try it! 🙂
Good morning, Timi…..I would suggest setting up a table (could be a card table) with paper/paints – and allowing yourself to ‘play’ when you have a few moments. The key is to not use the table for anything else:) Enjoy your Monday and week ahead…janet…..
p.s. I am drinking from your stainless steel travel mug as I type–it is so gorgeous! 🙂 🙂
Good morning again….thank you so much for this feedback. So pleased that you are happy with your mug:):)
Very beautiful art 🙂 I’ve also chosen your blog for the “Lovely Blog” Award! You can click here to learn more…https://huntsclubhouse.wordpress.com/2016/09/18/lovely-blog-award/ Congrats!
Good morning and thank you so much for this lovely gift. I will take a much better look at the rules later and try to adhere:) Hope you enjoy a beautiful Monday and week ahead. janet.
I must tell you that I have never been able to understand how to follow a Gravatar account??
You can just click on the link in the comments that will lead you to my blog. Just click on my orange sidebar to follow 🙂
You are a glorious inspiration to me! 💜💛💙
Good morning and thank you so much…..What a lovely way to begin my week with your comment:) Have a wonderfully creative day…Janet. xx
I thoroughly enjoyed this watercolor lesson, Janet. I love seeing the progression of the painting, and hearing the specific techniques that you use. You make water coloring seem easy, and having tried it over the years (because I love how they look) what I know is that you are an incredibly talented artist. This post, your words and art, are much appreciated, my friend~~
Thank you very much for such lovely compliment – I so appreciate. Monday is almost over here…hope your day is going well..Janet:)
Janet, you know I am no painter, but a writer, but I very much liked your watercolor lesson: “There are no lines around Mother Nature…everything is fluid.” Now that’s profound, that’s full of many meanings and many applications that my mind is beginning to work on. You’re a philosopher. And your work is lovely, as usual.
Good morning David, Thank you so much for this lovely comment. Actually my next blog will focus on the time when I first had the understanding that – ”There are no lines around Mother Nature – everything is fluid’ – I was on the remote island of Isle au Haut in the Penobscot Bay – Maine….and it was 1982. Hope you are enjoying a creative day….Janet:)
I’m utterly useless with art supplies around (they end up all over me and every other surface close enough) but reading your advice makes me want to try. You’re very inspiring and make it sound like a magical game. Thanks, Janet, and thanks for the hummingbird! Love the chickens too!
Good morning, Olga….I do believe that painting is a magical game:) I hope that one day we will be together playing with watercolours…Janet. x
Love your demo Janet. The vibrancy of your work and fluidity of the paint, I can only imagine how fun it would be to see you paint in person. You are an inspiration to me.
Actually I gave a watercolour demo last evening….all very loose and spontaneous. I look forward to the day when you and I are in the same space sharing creative thoughts – now wouldn’t that be lovely:) Janet.
You know it Janet!!
You make it look so easy, what talent you have! P.s, could you email me the price of the dancing birds please?xxx
Thank you so much, Dina…please send me your e mail address or e mail me at jcrhumming@hotmail.com Janet.xxx
Just wanted to say that there is a difference between mud and using a shade of a color
. This has been on my mind for days
. Thank Janet!
Amazing colors!
Thank you very much – I really appreciate your comment. Janet:)
No worries 😊
Just gorgeous! I love your colors and the movement. I hope that some day I can give up that need to control everything and just let the paint flow. Beautiful work Janet! 🙂
Good morning Carol…thank you so much for this lovely comment. The key to giving up control is allowing yourself to play…and play 🙂 In doing this we often really surprise ourselves…..Hope you have a lovely and creative weekend….janet. 🙂 x