Leisure Painter - UK (2019-06)

http://www.painters-online.co.uk JUNE 2019 59

Step 8
1 Now you can begin adding the leaves!
These are nice long leaf shapes, using the
stems as a guide. Start with a dark green mix
of gouache, with a nice creamy consistency.
As with the stems, practise these shapes on
the edge of the paper. The brush will do
most of the work if you let it; it’s just a

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question of getting used to how much

pressure to apply. I love this stage of a

painting; you can treat it like meditation.

2 Once you have a good covering

of dark foliage, start adding lighter

leaves using a few closely related

green mixes.

Step 9

1 Paint the flowers using just white gouache.

If you look closely you can see that where the

flower shapes have gone over the background

they look slightly off-white, which is good.

2 While the white gouache is still wet, touch the

centres of the flowers with madder lake deep or

quinacridone rose, allowing it to run very slightly.

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Step 10
1 Add a few dots of
pale green and your
watercolour and gouache
sketch is complete.
2 Before you put this
away as finished, try the
same painting on different
papers. Always choose
a heavy paper, at least
140lb, but try different
surfaces like Hot-pressed,
NOT and Cold-pressed.
Notice how the paper
can change how your
painting looks.

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Sarah

Wimperis

Join Sarah for a week’s

painting holiday at

Casa Bezzia in Italy,

from 21 to 28 June.

For details, visit

http://www.casabezzia.com

or see page 6. See

more of her work at

http://www.sarahwimperis.

co.uk

Balcony with Flowers,
watercolour and gouache
sketch, 8x 61 ⁄ 4 in. (10x16cm)

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