Annual Watercolor on Canvas Final Stages

Now for the big "reveal"!
I use a masking fluid pickup tool to lift the dried masking. It is a great little tool, inexpensive and very clean and efficient.

I took the mask off this piece after only two layers because I didn't want to go too dark too fast. I wanted to see what had transpired and then go from there.

As you can see, the values are still a bit light. I love to have strong value contrasts from very light to very dark as this adds lots of drama to the painting.


I can still see a small bit of the graphite I applied, so I know where I want to add some darker glazes.

I used a variety of colors from my palette and glazed on white a few layers in small areas using a number six round natural hair brush.

Be sure not too scrub your layers on, just gently float them on. If you scrub, the canvas has a tendency to let go of the color previously applied. This is good if you don't like an area. With canvas you can lift all the way back to the white quite easily, but I didn't want to lift on this painting. I was happy with what was there - it just needed some punch.
Stay tuned, the big reveal will be in my next post!

Annuals - Watercolor on Canvas Technique

The first application of paint!
This is such a blast! I use a large, soft bristled brush to gently float water over the entire canvas. Have lots of paper toweling on hand as this gets very drippy and messy.

I use three colors that relate to the primary colors: New Gamboge, Quinacridone Magenta, and French Ultramarine Blue. These are just my go-to colors. They seem to work so well and blend nicely.

I dribble the wet pigment into the water on the canvas, and allow it to flow and blend. Don't tip the canvas too much or you will create a solid color or just mud. Notice that I apply the colors somewhat carefully, adding the blues to where I will develop darker values and lighter, wetter, warmer dribbles into areas that need to remain lighter.

Allow this to dry thoroughly. Then apply masking to the next darker value (value number two). Just remember that the masking saves the lighter areas. Your whites are already saved, now save the next darker color. Do the same for each application until you get to the darkest darks.
Apply the next layer of paint in the same manner as the first, but use stronger pigment with each application. You can also switch to a different color trio if you like.

I use a small spritzer to control the wetness and flow of the colors. I can also use it to "wash" off color that is too dark or the wrong color. To blend the pigment use a very light spritz, to wash color use a more forceful direct spray. Be sure to allow the color to drip over the sides of the canvas. I love to work on gallery wrapped canvas because the pigment flows onto the sides and creates lovely patterns. I don't have to frame it when I'm done, either!

Annuals - Next Step

Okay, back to the Annuals painting...
values with a graphite pencil. With each layer of paint much of this graphite will lift off, so I pencilBecause I will be using lots of water and very wet pigments on this piece I gently scrub in my darkest in quite a bit to see where I am going.







You can see I use quite a bit of pencil so that I will have graphite left after each application of paint to help me navigate my way through to the end.

Just be sure you don't push too hard with your pencil. Use a soft lead so that you can deposit a good amount of graphite without damaging the canvas or scratching through your absorbent ground.
You can mask either before or after this step to save the whites (value number one).

New Painting - Bird Man

I've been away for a few weeks helping with some family issues in Michigan, but now I'm back! This is a piece I worked on over the summer and just framed today. I call it "Bird Man". This was a man I saw last summer feeding the birds on the beach at Indialantic, Florida. When he walked onto the boardwalk the birds immediately started to gather, so I am assuming he was a regular there. I could see his delight and patience with the birds and each bird had a personality of its own, some cranky and rushed, some slow and patient.

The colors in this piece were fun and I did a little direct painting into the darkest areas and on the birds at the end of this work.

I will be showing this piece along with many of my newer paintings at the ArtWorks of Eau Gallie art show coming up the weekend before Thanksgiving. Please stop by and say hello if you are in the area! Details are on the Upcoming Events page of my website: http://watercolorworksart.com/events.htm

A Better View

This is another poured watercolor on Arches 140 lb. paper. It is 21 inches high and 14 inches wide. I just framed it and will bring it to the gallery today as we are part of the First Friday Gallery Walk and Fall for the Arts Festival in the Eau Gallie Arts District (EGAD). http://eaugalliearts.com/

This was a fun piece. I'm learning so much by experimenting with this technique. After many paintings, I am beginning to learn which colors, subjects and methods work to achieve the results I am looking for. I'm excited to say that I will be showing some even more brave pieces soon. I am taking this technique a step further and will have some work to show for it very soon!

If you are in the Melbourne, Florida area, please stop by the gallery tonight (or anytime) and see what we have to offer. There will be a lot going on tonight as a large part of the arts community will be in the art district celebrating Fall for the Arts. There will be demonstrations, live music, dance performances, and more! Stop by and say "hello!".

Straw Hat in Watercolor

This is another "poured" piece that I recently completed. I'm still experimenting with this technique and finding that certain subjects lend themselves better than others.

I liked the solitary feeling of this woman on the beach with the group of other people in the distance. The colors are happy except for the blues around the lonely woman. Her hat, and perhaps her thoughts are the only cheerful, sunny items around her. Perhaps she went to the beach for some solitude.