Plein Air Painting in Watercolor

By Sue Doucette

Plein air painting, or painting on location outdoors, can be both challenging and exhilarating. The results are fresher looking than paintings done in a studio. Organizing your supplies ahead of time will make the plein air experience much more enjoyable! My favorite watercolors to bring along are Aureolin Yellow, Gamboge, Cadmium Red, Rose Madder Genuine, Red Rose Deep, Viridian Green, Cobalt Blue, and Ultramarine Blue. Also include your own favorites. My watercolor brushes range from a #3 to a 2 inch flat brush, for applying washes to large areas, such as the sky. Include three to four sizes in between, and remember to bring a brush holder. Make sure to have a plastic portable palette with lid, and a water container with lid, as well as two gallons of water. My paper preference is 140 lb. cold-pressed Arches watercolor paper. A board (I use a 2′X3′ piece of masonite) to clip your paper to is also needed. You will want to pack four clips, a portable easel, plenty of paper towel, spray bottle and a plastic bag for trash. Pencils and a sketch pad will be needed also for planning of your painting’s composition and values. A tripod or small folding table to hold your supplies is essential. You may want to wear a hat or visor, and sunglasses to cut down on glare. Snacks, and bug spray are I must for me, not to mention a stool or chair! I have found it’s better to be well prepared than to be missing something, especially if it’s a long way home.

Once you have arrived at your location and found a subject you like, begin by making two or three “thumbnail” pencil sketches, being sure to state your values clearly. (Values are your lights and darks. Three to four shades between white and your darkest dark are enough. These quick drawings will guide you as you are painting.) This is the time to clarify your composition as well. These drawings are quick and spontaneous and should measure about 3″ or 4″ square. After you’ve completed your thumbnails choose the one you like the best, then set up your equipment. Now you are ready to paint.

Set up your work station so you are not looking directly into the sun. Clip your paper to your board in preparation for sudden gusts of wind and keep your thumbnail sketch handy. Remember when painting with watercolor, to leave the white paper where your whites will go, then sketch your subject matter onto your watercolor paper. It is helpful to spray the back of your paper with water before painting. This will keep it from curling up when the front becomes wet.

Read more

How to Mix Grays in Watercolor for Atmospheric Perspective

About Mara

marapictureI enjoy being an artist! And I’ve been at it longer than this internet blogging stuff. In fact, blogging is all new to me! So I will start by telling you a little about myself. Our nest is not quite empty because we still enjoy the presence of our college-aged kids at home. And because they are busy with work and school I am able to enjoy uninterrupted painting sessions during the day-light hours instead of in the middle of the night like I did when they were little. A bit here, a bit there and I keep my projects alive! One project I’m working on is a cookbook. Originally written for my husband and children, I re-structure classic recipes we love, to make them healthier. I’m also writing and illustrating a series of children’s books. Finding time to Draw, paint, and teach has been a challenge while raising a family but finishing a project is very rewarding to me. And I hope you like my artwork and lessons and enjoy watching my progress with various projects!

Please follow this link to visit Mara’s website to view more of her art lessons.


Read more

Watercolor Techniques – My Simple 3 Step Process

By Susan Harrison-Tustain

I developed my Priming Method over a period of many years, and I now teach this watercolor technique to all of my students. It is a simple but very effective 3 step process:

The first step is to apply water to the region you wish to paint and then allow the moisture to be absorbed into the paper.

Next, while the paper is still barely damp from step one, i.e. the sheen of the surface has just disappeared, lay in another light wash of clear water.

In the 3rd and final step of the Priming Method, while the previous wash is still wet and shiny, lay in your pigmented wash. Before moving on to apply further washes it is extremely important to ensure your watercolor paper is BONE DRY.

Read more

Watercolor Rose Painting Tutorial – Heidi Klum Rose

About Doris Joa

doris websiteMy name is Doris Joa and I am an artist from Germany.

My mediums are watercolor and oil. One of my special favorite subjects are Roses and figurative work. I paint roses and also other flowers in oil and watercolor. Beside Pansies, Rhododendron, Peonies, Daisies and Tulips, there are a lot of roses in my gallery on my website like Heidi Klum Rose, Sangerhauser Jubiläumsrose, Rose “Mein schöner Garten”, Rose Golden Celebration from David Austin, Rose Innocencia, Rose New Dawn, Rose Clair Renaissance, Rose Queen Mother, Rose Bonita Renaissance and more.

My goal is to paint in romantic realism. I am also doing figurative work, portraits, still lifes and in 2005 I have started a new series of colourful Horse paintings in oil. I also have started with doing postcard paintings in 4?x6? and other small studies .

Read more

Painting Demonstration in Watercolor and Gouache

About Doug

Doug Purdon was born in Toronto, Ontario. He is a full-time painter, teacher and writer. He is a graduate of the Ontario College of Art and an elected member of the Society of Canadian Artists and Ontario Society of Artists. He currently lives in Toronto with his wife, the writer Rosemary Aubert.

He exhibits his work in galleries in Canada, the US and the UK and his paintings are in many private and corporate collections, including The Toronto Public Library, The City of Toronto, The Arts and Letters Club of Toronto, Sears Canada, and The Mystic Seaport Museum, Mystic CT, where his painting Tugboat Alley was awarded the Museum Purchase Award in 2005. A major retrospective of his work was held in October 2007 at the Arts and Letters Club of Toronto.

Doug believes that artists should continue the tradition of passing on their skills and knowledge to other artists and does this through his workshops, seminars and writing. He currently teaches courses at Loyalist College, Belleville, Ontario; Bridgewater Retreat, Tweed, Ontario; and the School of Continuing Studies, University of Toronto and in workshops for art associations across Canada.

While he paints his native Ontario, he also enjoys travelling to different locations and has painted in Scotland, England, France, and the American Southwest and on the eastern and western seaboard of North America. He is represented by Studio 737, Tweed, Ontario; Arnold Fine Art, Newport RI; and the Gallery at Mystic Seaport, Mystic CT.

Read more

Watercolor Techniques – Painting Trees

These quick exercises from world renowned architectural illustrator and fine art watercolorist Frank M. Costantino demonstrate different watercolor techniques for painting trees. Learn more about Frank and his seminars at www.fmcostantino.com

Many beginner watercolor artists have a great deal of trouble with painting believable trees in their landscape paintings.  The following videos should help you a great deal as Frank really breaks things down in an easy to understand manner with the following watercolor painting technique videos.

Part 1

Read more

Watercolor and Pastel Painting Demonstration – Let’s Paint Winter Woods!

About Christine Kane

Christine Kane is a pastel and watercolor artist who is inspired by the Midwest landscape and it’s seasons. To find new ideas for her paintings, she hikes in the forest preserves during all seasons.

Christine began drawing at an early age. She focused her education on art and has a degree in Graphic Design. She is continuing her studies and is currently pursuing a degree in Natural Resources.

Translating weather is also evident in her work. “Weather makes a landscape painting come to life. How I love to show leaves blowing in the Autumn time, snow falling in winter, or a beautiful thunderstorm approaching in my summer paintings.”

Christine finds God’s handwork in all aspects of nature and tries to translate her awe and reverence in her artwork. Never disappointed, she relies on His creation for inspiration.

Read more

Watercolor Drybrush Technique by Ottorino de Lucchi

About Ottorino

OTTORINO DE LUCCHI, born in Ferrara, works in Folgaria (Trento). In recent years, he has developed a painting technique based on watercolor drybrush which allows to mantain the brightness of the watercolor.

To learn more about Ottorino and to see more of his work, please visit his website by following the link below:

http://www.ottorinodelucchi.com


Watercolor Drybrush Technique by Ottorino de Lucchi

Read more

Watercolor Painting Tutorial – Distant Hills & Mountains

This watercolor painting video tutorial for painting distant hills and mountains is taken from my Watercolor Secrets course. This is the first lesson in the “hill & mountains” DVD and we progress gradually from here..

Watercolor Painting Demonstration – Fluffy Young Duckling

dmh small 1 About the Artist

My name is Dawn McLeod Heim, author of the book “Step-by-Step Guide to Painting Realistic Watercolors“.
Over the years I have had numerous inquiries and requests to create a website not only geared towards learning how to paint watercolor in a realistic manner, but also a place that fellow watercolor enthusiasts can have the opportunity to purchase and paint the class projects that I have taught my students.
My Website: http://www.watercolorpaintingandprojects.com/

Gaining a better understanding

Read more

Next Page »