QUICK SUMMARY
Before you begin to paint:
- If working from a photograph, refine the composition by masking the edges.
- Do a small sketch or two, analysing tonal quality and refining the composition.
- Analyse what colours you need and practice colour mixes on a spare piece of watercolour paper.
- Lay out colours on your palette, make sure there is ample paint and space to mix on your palette
- Rehearse the order of the washes in your mind or even write it down on a scrap of paper.
- Test out any new materials you are going to use before beginning painting.
While painting:
- Work on clean paper, no fingerprints or dirt
- Allow each wash to dry thoroughly -don’t fiddle with them.
- Mix colours on the palette, or allow washes to mix on the paper
- Use Less Transparent pigments to ‘charge’ Transparent washes for excitement.
- Use a large brush for a large area.
- Stand up and stretch or go for a walk – the wash will dry and your perception will refresh
After painting:
- Clean all your brushes in cold water reshape their points and edges and dry standing up.
- Put your palette away out of the dust.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Did I under work? - Result, too pale and watery, no drama. Solution: Add some deeper tones to the work, re-examine shadows, add depth.
- Did I over work – Result, muddy washes, no highlights. Solution: ‘lift out’ some of your wash with a damp sponge, scrape tiny highlights with a knife, add tiny amounts of gouache where needed.
- Did I put in too much detail? -Result, painting loses focus. Solution: tighten composition by eradicating distracting foregrounds; always do a small tonal sketch before starting.
- Did I lose my ‘Hook’- is the thing that made me want to paint the subject in the first place still there prominently? Solution: Always ask yourself before commencing to paint – Why am I painting this subject? What do I want to show the viewer?
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