This watercolour exercise is all about letting go and loosening up. There are no mistakes. Whatever the paint does….let it happen, and most importantly allow yourself to PLAY PLAY PLAY…….
All the white areas are DRY WHITE PAPER……(In some areas I have added some permanent white gouache where the watercolour and gouache bleed).
I am allowing the paint to bleed and do its own thing where it touches a wet area……
The strong dark I have added in this next frame is a mix of BURNT SIENNA AND PRUSSIAN BLUE – I don’t use black.
In this frame I have scraped out some of the dark with a knife to add energy. All white areas continue to be DRY WHITE PAPER.
Note that I am moving colours around the image to produce a sense of rhythm.
The most important thing is to have FUN…..and to PLAY a little every day.
For those of you who have been waiting to see the video we shot in December….you will have a little longer to wait…..
In doing this filming, I learned a great deal and will now be far better equipped to put some videos together…..watch this space:)
A Bientôt
Not for the first time your wonderful colours have brightened a day of dreary rain!
Thank you and I am very pleased that the watercolours have brightened your day:) Janet
I don’t understand the techniques, but I love your paintings Janet. They hum with vibrancy!
Thank you so much Brad.:)
I love this post which I find very useful! And you are so right about doing it every day ! Thank you for sharing
Glad you enjoyed.
Reblogged this on Enviroart by Suzanne Bélair, IAF, AFC and commented:
I don’t do watercolour but I plan on trying one of these days and I thought this post was great!
Thank you so much for your comment and for the re-blog. Janet 🙂
Am so tempted to try this. Is the paper a textured paper?
This paper happens to be NOT – somewhere in the middle of cold pressed/rough and Hot pressed smooth. However, for PLAYING purposes you can use anything, including newspaper. Often when I have given workshops, I have people use newspaper and it is when they often do their best work…because they are not intimidated by the paper. A good tip is to order a ‘sample pack’ of watercolour papers…which allows you to experiment and play. Ken Bromley does a good one.
I love the colour purple and the irises are a delight!
Thank you Emma. Purple is one of my favourite colours:)
Janet, wonderfully vibrant paintings of the iris flowers … a joy this grey January morning! Although not an artist I was interested to read about your technique and your emphasis to have fun and play a little everyday! Something we should all heed as we go through our lives!😀
Thank you Annika for your comment and for reading the blog. I believe it is something that we should all do a little of every single day….and it can be done in so many creative ways….singing, dancing, cooking, gardening, and simply day dreaming……:). Janet X
Great advice. Awesome.
Thank you so much Peter and for the re-blog…always appreciated. Janet :)X
Beautiful, Janet…
Thank you Bette…much appreciate:)