20131006 - Next Project

Or as my daughter once said when we were visiting the North Carolina Zoo, "Next Animal!". Like her, I don't like to let grass grow under me. I am off to my next project.

As you probably noted, I tried the watercolor canvas as a surface for watercolor painting. Now, I think I will try making a watercolor canvas with watercolor paper. This approach uses traditional watercolor paper, but stretches it onto canvas stretcher bars. It appears there are several advantages to this approach:

• The painting appears to be more of a traditional painting on canvas.
• The watercolor paper is held tight on the stretcher bars (no ripples or warping).
• Traditional canvas frames can be used, eliminating the need to use mats and glass.
• Per Joyce Faulkner, the watercolor remains the same color as in the palette.
• The painting style will remain the same as painting on watercolor paper.

To mount the artwork without glass requires using a UV protecting varnish. I have some that I used on the Honeymoon House painting on the watercolor canvas board. I can use the same spray varnish on the watercolor paper.

Unlike a traditional oil color canvas, the stretcher bars must also be varnished before the watercolor paper is stretched onto it. The reason is that the stretcher bars contain some acid, which must be kept away from the paper. A couple coats of the varnish spray should seal the wood and protect the paper.

I do not know about the claim that the color remains the same. I would think it would lighten a bit, just as it does on a watercolor paper block. There should not be any difference. But Joyce insists that the color remains the same as in the palette. Perhaps having the paper suspended in the air (off a watercolor board) tends to make it behave a little differently. I will test this.

Here is a video by Joyce Faulkner on how to stretch watercolor paper onto canvas stretcher bars and how to use them for painting:

Here is another video by Doris Joa on how to do the same thing. She provides more detail on the step by step process.

20130916 - Misty Marsh and Golden Koi

First of all, our objective today in the art class (Pen & Ink with Watercolor) was to create a misty marsh scene. As I've noted, I'm not very comfortable creating a very loose painting. This was my third or fourth attempt. I was doing wet into wet. Perhaps if I try a wet onto dry painting technique, I will have better success. I'm not completely upset with this one. But it's clearly not one of my better paintings. A clear sign that I have a lot still to learn. I knew it, but this clearly demonstrates that.




Of course, when I go to a more structured pen & ink with watercolor painting technique, I am much happier with the results. It's the engineer in me that wants the structure of a detailed drawing before I just start painting. I am not sure I will ever get past that completely.

Additionally, today Brian (my son) gave me a three bottles of Daler-Rowney FW Pearlescent Acrylic ink. So, I had to try it out. The result was a combination of pen & ink with the Pearlescent Acrylic Ink. The three inks were Galactic Blue, Mazuma Gold and Silver Pearl. So, I also decided to do a golden koi. As you can see, the pearlescent inks my son gave me work very well with pen & ink. I am much happier with this painting. You will no doubt see more of this type of painting in the future.

20130906 - Tomatoes

I started a couple of watercolor courses today. One is a watercolor course with fall colors. The second is a pen & ink with watercolor course. The course today was the watercolor only course.

Rocky Alexander is the instructor. Of course, as you would expect, her skill with watercolor is amazing. As I expected, I learn as I watch her work. Seeing her do a rendition of tomatoes was interesting. I learned a new technique to blend together colors. By dropping wet paint into wet paint, you can get a graduated color change. Of course, the round shape of the tomatoes is a good way to exercise that skill.

So, here's the first painting from that class. There are many more to come. Hopefully you will also find my journey with watercolors interesting.

As you look about, remember how wonderful the fall colors are and even in the midst of decline we can see some very spectacular results. While that's true for our gardens, it's particularly true for us. So, take the time and shine out with the radiance that's in your heart.