http://www.painters-online.co.uk 59iiPRACTICAL
February 2021p Place de la Republique, Pézenas, watercolour on Milford Rough 140lb (300gsm), 11 3 15in (28 3 38cm).
I had recently discovered that painting on a smooth gesso surface made me paint more efficiently – blending areas with my fingers gave me more
control over the effect I wanted to achieve. I used a dark ground made from a cheap black and red acrylic, which helped the lightest areas of the
building look more aged. I applied layers of paint with mostly white and tiny amounts of yellow and burnt umber and a cool blue mixed in; the
dark ground was then allowed to seep through, thus giving the effect of dirty wallsu Pézenas Winter, watercolour
on Arches Rough 300lb,
113 15in (28 3 38 cm).
The sky was put on first
followed by the lightest tones
of the buildings. Half-tone
shadows were added wet-in-
wet at the same time where
appropriate on the lightest
tones. Half-tones were then
added and the trees, followed
by the darkest shapes of
the shaded sides of the
buildings. The ground with
wet-in-wet shadows was then
added. Details – architectural
features, etc – were last to go
on, along with the darkest
shadowsNick Digital.indd 23Nick Digital.indd 23 15/12/2020 12:0615/12/2020 12:06