Have you ever planted a flower garden?
There are several ways to arrange your plants: Plant the flowers a short distance apart so they will grow and intertwine with each other where they meet; Mix the flowers together so they create an exciting splash of colour; Or drop a different plant into a cluster and let it blend and shine with the group.
Working with watercolour is very much like this . . . .
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| Little Hummingbird on a Branch - Outdoor Sketching |
Painting Outdoors is my passion and one I hope to encourage you to try and enjoy. I love to sit on the beach and capture the moment. Or settle in the shade by a lazy creek that is meandering through the trees. I always feel a sense of peace and happiness. You will find the memories stay with you long after those photos are lost on your phone.
But painting Outdoors is NOT LIKE PAINTING IN THE STUDIO. . .
In your studio things are under your control. Well, as much as anything in the creation process can be. Outdoors the light changes, the weather changes and life changes. That pretty mossy rock is suddenly in the dark shade, the wind is blowing and it starts to rain. (True story. But with a happy ending. By the time I had my wet things packed up the sun was back and so I sat down and tried again. With Success. 😊)
Now I don't mean to scare you off but rather to impress on you that working quickly is important. Hence, mixing your watercolours on paper is a real time saver. Rather than spending time mixing endless puddles of water, learn how to mix on paper.
FYI: I have a Youtube Video that gives more examples of mixing on paper: Playing with Nature's Greens there is also a free Printable PDF Reference Picture for drawing along with me. Hummingbird Picture.
3 Ways to Mix Your Watercolours on Paper
1. Working Wet into Wet:
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| Note the mixing and moving of colour as the wet blue is added to the wet green on the paper. |
This is something you may be familiar with. In this case your brush is wet with 1 colour of paint and you have already put another colour, which is still wet, on the paper. Touch the new colour to the one on the paper. A new colour is formed. Like that splash of colour when you intermix all the plants. Once grown it is hard to find the individual plant. The amount of intermingling of your watercolours will depending on how dry the first colour is.
In my example above, the green was just dry enough at the edge to not mix with the blue so I was able to have the light green at the top of the leaf and then have it gradually become darker.
In the field you have to work quickly as things will dry quickly but in the studio you will be waiting for things to dry.
2. Work Damp into Damp:
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| Use a damp brush and to add a new colour to a damp colour on the page: note the slight intermixing of the colours at the edge where they meet. The edge will be a soft edge. |
This is something I do a lot. I will paint part of a leaf and then leave it for a few minutes. (weather dependent) Once it is damp, I will touch another colour beside it. The wet colour will bleed a bit into the damp colour but both colours will still be visible. Very much like those plants that are planted beside each other. Their edges intertwine but the plants themselves are still quite visible.
This can be done quite easily outdoors as things are drying quickly, but if the air is damp, it can take forever for that paint to dry.
3. Work Dry into Dry: ( better known as barely damp into dry)
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| Working Dry into Dry: When you do this the edges will be hard, depending on what you are painting you may want to soften the edges. |
If you do watercolour you are probably aware of dry brushing. This is a bit like this. In this case your brush is almost dry but has paint on it. The picture is dry. You add your colour. I was adding a bit of dark to the shadow areas of the leaves. Note how the edges are hard. I dampen my brush and just touched the edge to smooth it out.
This can be tricky outside. If it is warm or windy your paint will be dry before you can get it to the paper. Definitely not like working in the studio.
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| Finished Leaves: Note the interesting colours and blends on the leaves |
If you look at the finished leaves carefully you will see several examples of where I have used these 3 techniques. The red on the stem (dry into dry, edge not blended). The yellowish tip of the left leaf (dry into dry, edges blended). Can you spot any others?
I have a Youtube Video that gives more examples of mixing on paper: Playing with Nature's Greens there is also a free Printable PDF Reference Picture for drawing along with me. Hummingbird Picture.
Other Posts of Interest:
OUTDOOR SKETCHING SEASON Coming up Fast!!
Starting Wednesday, May 12: 10am - 12:30pm
Twice a week, Wednesday and Saturday mornings, I will take small groups out for Outdoor Sketching. Get Tips and Techniques for Sketching in Nature. Beginners to Advanced Welcome. Max. 3 per class.
Mediums supported: pencil, pen, watercolour, watercolour pencils and coloured pencils
Location: Parks in North Surrey and Langley
Cost: $50 per session
Supplies: Bring your own supplies, don't hesitate to contact me about your supplies
Rainy Days: Not fun to plein air in the rain. You can defer to another available day or join me in my studio and work with me. (when Covid rules allow small inside gatherings)
Contact Wendy to Book Your Spot!!
Looking to Move your work to NEW LEVELS?
Online Coaching/Teaching (3 sessions 30 minutes each $75)
Are You and Your Inner Critic looking to expand your discussions. Here's how it works: Send me a few pictures of your paintings. I will prepare material to facilitate a discussion based on your goals. I am a sounding board, coach and teacher, with suggestions, techniques and tips to help you meet your goals and move your art forward. More info here. Looking forward to Zooming with you.
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Have a great Artful Day,
Wendy
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