WATERCOLOUR DEMOS by Beatrice Cloake

THE RACE

2011-10-02T07:28:00.000-07:00

This painting was created after a challenge given on Redbubble. Artists exchanged their own paintings for others to interpret in different ways.

I had chosen a painting by Joseph Ruff, Magnificent sea (below)

Joseph's painting was on a big size canvas in Oil.

I decided to translate it in watercolour with my very own style on Saunders Waterford - 30" x 22"

I drew faint lines for the boats. Because I hate using masking fluid, I decided not to use any and my big concern was to avoid putting paint on them.

I did wet the entire sky with water and laid Aureolin, Cobalt, Ultramarine, Permanent rose and Scarlet Red.

All these paints are Artists range Winsor and Newton.

I then tilt the board, right and left and down, making sure that the sails would not be spoilt (very difficult, but I managed to do so) I must say that I was rather please with this!

When it was dry, I decided to lay another stronger layer. I worked the same way that the first time with the same colours.

It was time to paint the sails.

I used Aureolin, Winsor Yellow and a dash of Permanent rose.

I did work on each boat about 10 or more layers with the same colours. The darker shadows was the same colours with added Cobalt

I did not want to finish the boats without having some colours on the sea. My main concern was the tonal value.

The sea is the reflection of the sky but must be darker.

I added a second layer on the sea and started to work seriously on the second boat.

This is the finish painting that you can see in a lot bigger version on Redbubble

I applied three coats of paint on the sea.

For the lines on the sails, I used Derwent watercolour pencils, finely sharpened!

THE BIRTH OF A ROSE

2010-11-03T11:09:00.000-07:00

SWEETIES

2009-11-10T07:24:00.001-08:00

You can either watch the demo or find out below in details the paint I have used etc..

HOW DID I PAINT THIS ?

I have used Saunders Waterford paper NOT 300lbs

Fixed on the boad with staples - not stretched. See my TIPS

I start with laying a VERY pale wash of Winsor Lemon on the middle of the flowers, the leaves and the buds.

When it is dry I cover the middle of the flowers with masking fluid. When removed there will still be some yellow left, it will be better than the pure white of the paper.

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I lay another layer of Winsor Lemon on the leaves and buds and while still wet I add little spots of Cerulean blue so that the colours mix gently on the paper.

It is advisable to hold a paper towel in one hand at all time. You then can control the amount of water on your brush by letting the paper towel absorb some of the content of water from the brush before working on the paper.

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When almost dried, with a sharp end tool, (it can be the end of an old brush that I have sharpened) draw gently the lines on the leaves.

When I come back with a darker colour the paint will stay in the lines and form ridges.

While everything is drying I paint the sweets and I can value the strength of my future application.

Blue sweets : Winsor Blue

Yellow sweet : Aureolin + Raw sienna

Red Sweet : Winsor Lemon + Scarlet red

I start laying the first colour on a petal on the left of the picture.

Winsor Lemon with Permanent rose.

When almost dried I use my sharp tool to draw some lines on it.

Now I cover with pieces of paper the area surrounding the main leaf.

I am using a toothbrush (I have cut the hair shorter to give it some spring)

I am using Jackson masking fluid. It is ideal since it is very fine, not too heavy like some other fluid. I flick it on the leaf. I am working towards achieving some texture on it.

I do flick some too on the sweets. I want to try to achieve some flickering light on the papers.

I also put some fine lines with masking fluid on the petals and on some of the edges of the flowers.

I have worked on the little pot, using the same colours than with the sweets. I had also put a line with masking fluid to catch the light on the pot.

I carry on with the petals of the first flower using :

Permanent rose + Cobalt blue on the darker one.

I am painting the large flower I am going to make up to 6 to 7 applications on each of the petals with different shades to achieve the shape of the petals and the flower.

First dilution of the application, I mix the colours not on my palette but on the paper :

Permanent rose + Raw Sienna

The following petal :

Permanent rose + Scarlet red + Winsor Lemon.

Beware, these are strong colours so they have to be diluted in small quantities.

While the paint on the petal is still wet. From the bottom I drop some Scarlet red.

It runs into the petals. Help it with the tip of the brush.

I carry on with the same process on the rest of the petals

I have started with the petal under the sweets- It is a darker one and I am mixing :

Permanet rose with a dash of Ultramarine.

I carry on the petal of this flower with the same colour than the first flower but with stronger mixture of colours. This is a newly opened flowers and the colours are stronger.

I lay stronger colour on the pot, carry on with the petals, the latest one with stronger colours :

Permanent rose + Scarlet red.

Now the centre of the flowers emerge very well since they have been preserved with the masking fluid.

I make sure that the centre is darker by wetting each petal and droping from the centre a strong colour of :

Winsor Red + A tiny bit of Alizarin crimson

I have started working on the main leaf. I lay :

Cerulean blue + Winsor Blue + Winsor Lemon

With my sharp tool while it is drying I draw some line to create the texture.

The leaf of a hollihock is very textured.

You can see what can be achieved with doing this. Now for the darker part I mix :

Winsor Blue + a mixture of Raw Umber and Burnt Umber.

Let it drop in the darker area of the leaf and let it spray itself.

When it is dried I cover the entire leaf with Lemon Yellow.

Then cover the darker area with Ultramarine + Burnt Sienna.

When dried, remove the masking fluid and you will have the texture on the leaf.

In the same way I am creating texture on the big flower on the rigth side petal, the one situated under the smaller flower.

It has several petals mixing together with folds in them.

I have textured by laying :

Permanet rose + Cobalt

While drying, I gently run my sharp tool creating folds.

When dry, I run another mixture of the same colours.

I am working once more on the sweets.

You must work one sweet at a time and let dry before working on another one otherwise the water will run into each other.

I cover each of them with a layer or water, then when almost dry:

- For the Red one, I apply the shadow area with Scarlet Red+a dash of Ultramarine

-For the Blue one : Ultramarine +a dash of Scarlet red.

For the Yellow one : Raw Sienna+a dash of Aureolin

When dry you can remove the masking fluid from the sweets.

I also adding the shading on the petals of the flowers with :

Permanent rose+Scarlet Red+dash Ultramarine

I remove all masking fluid from the petals of the flowers and run all over them a layer of Permanen rose

I am adding stronger colours where needed. By sheer accident a little drop of water has appeared on the top of the petal. I exploit this accident by creating one.

Making a shade with Cobolt Blue + Permanent rose.

After removing the masking fluid from the centre of the flowers I create the shading on the middle part with a mixture (on your palette) of :

Raw Sienna+ Cerulean Blue

I am adding some green mixture on the unopened buds with :

Cerulean Blue+Winsor Yellow and I shade them with Winsor Blue+Burnt Umber

I am running a mixture of Scarlet Red+Ultramarine for shading on the cloth.

By throwing away on the edges some Raw Sienna, the shading is pushed away.

This is the fun with watercolour !

Now the sporting part !

You need a paper towel in one hand + your paint brush + another clean paintbrush.

Now I work on my board laying flat.

I lay some clean water in the top left corner and a bit more towards the centre of the picture. I am not going to let the paint run in the middle, only in the corner.

From the top left corner I throw away

Winsor Lemon+Aureolin+Scarlet Red

I have no time to value the mixture, I just put the colours into the water and hold my breath for effects.

With my other brush I direct the mixture around the petals of the flowers and with the tissue paper I make sure that the mixture does not come over the flowers.

While it is still wet I drop some Cobalt blue in the top corner.

I treat the right corner the same way with a mixture of :

Raw Sienna + Aureolin

And in the centre where the two sections merge, I drop a mixture of :

Cobalt blue with a dash of Ultramarine + a dash of Scarlet red

I make the colours run on the right of the pot and carry on on the cloth with :

Raw Sienna, Permanent Rose, Scarlet Red

Only gentle touch of these colour.

HYTHE BAY -

2009-11-02T06:54:00.000-08:00

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bR08LsdWEvo

You can either watch the creation of this painting be or view below my explanations.

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I have drawn this picture on Saunders Waterford 300lbs NOT.

My paper is not stretched but fixed with staples on a board.

I then apply masking tape all around to keep my edges clean.

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I wet the sky and lay blues on each corner, using a mixture of Ultramarine and Cerulean.

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I am adding a mixture of Winsor Yellow and Aureolin. I have masked the sun.

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I am throwing Scarlet red, Permanent rose and Alizarin Crimson, I then spray with water

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I tilt my board in all angles to make the colours merge and wait for a spectacular result. Although it does not always work !!!

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It is happening.....

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I have laid strong colours but because of the weight of the paper and the amount of water for mixing, the colours are more subtile and I like this.

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I start the same process with the water, laying stronger colours than for the sky since water is darker than the sky.

I use the same mixture of yellows.

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I add the reds

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Trying to make a reflection of the sky I add some purple, mixing Ultramarine with Scarlet red

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I work on the houses on the right. I have masked some windows here and there, no details since they are far away and I am working as impressionism.

I have mixed Winsor yellow and Raw Sienna.

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The coast line is a mixture of Cobalt and Scarlet red, getting darker towards the houses and using it on the roofs.

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The beach is a mixture of Scarlet red and Burnt Sienna with some Cobalt blue here and there.

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I build the rocks with Burnt Sienna - Scarlet red and Ultramarine

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I have masked the waves and I am going to soften them now.

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I use a wet strong tissue

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I rub, not on the waves but on the outside of the waves to soften them.

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The picture has dried nicely. It is soft, I have added another layer of Burnt Sienna with added Scarlet red on the beach,only front of the picture.

I have tidied the water and waves and I am happy with this result.

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