Artist’s Back to Basic – July 2019

I

f you are painting a botanical art

or natural history subject on a

white background, ensure your

work is protected at all times. Oils

from your hand can leave greasy

marks on the watercolour paper

which are impossible to remove as

they are absorbed into the paper.

Protection will also prevent

unwanted paint spots, splatters or

dropped brushes from damaging

your work. Simply use clear baking

paper or a larger piece of tracing

paper that will fit around your work.

These papers are transparent and

will also allow the hand to glide

across the paper and not stick.

Bend the edges of the protective

paper over the top and bottom of the

watercolour paper and tape at the

rear. Draw a line around the area of

your graphite drawing which will be

on the watercolour paper. Cut out

this section. The only area exposed

with Leonie Norton

Detailed Subjects on

White Background

Below left: Cover painting

with baking paper and

draw around subject

Below right: Cut out

around painting.

Drawing Basics