Sunday Secrets #32

 This entry was originally posted on Sunday,  August 26, 2012 

Yesterday I demonstrated my pouring watercolor technique for a local group.

Of course I was asked about the colors that I use for the demonstration.

I was surprised to discover that I have not addressed this question here in my blog.

So I though it was time to let you know what colors I use when pouring and why.

 

First of all, I usually only use 3 colors.

The three primaries- one yellow, one red, one blue.

Every other color comes from a combination of some or all of these colors.

However, which yellow, which red, and which blue I use will vary.

 

For my yellows, I will use either Winsor Yellow or Winsor Lemon.

For red, I use Permanent Rose, Permanent Alizarin Crimson, or Winsor Red.

For blue, I will use either Winsor Blue or Indanthrone Blue.

 

My reasoning beyond the fact that I like these colors is that these colors stain.

It is important to have staining colors when pouring.

That is because masking fluid will be put on top of the dried paint.

If the paint is a nonstaining color, the color will lift when the masking fluid is lifted.

If the paint is staining, it will stay put.

 

Simply reasoning, really.

But it works. 

 

More information about the staining quality of a color can be found on each of the manufacturer's website.

Sunday Secrets #4

  This entry was originally posted on Sunday, February 12, 2012

I have two questions to answer this week.

These questions were asked as part of the comments posted on my YouTube video about pouring watercolor.

The first question was:

How do you wet your paper (while pouring)? 

Before I begin pouring paint, I wet my paper thoroughly.

I do this with a large hake brush. A hake brush is a wash brush with soft hairs. I prefer this over a regular wash brush because the bristles are softer and don't scratch or lift the layers of paint I have already put down.

I sometimes will pour water onto the painting and spread it all over the paper with the hake brush.
Then I pour the paint.


The second question was:
Do you use less water on the paper as you add darker layers?
No, I do not use less water on the paper but I do use less water in the paint.
For the darker layers, I wet the whole paper again with the hake brush. I will then shake off the water that is sitting on top of all the layers of masking fluid. While the paper is still wet, I pour the paint that is more concentrated in color.