Watercolor Artist - USA (2019-08)

ArtistsNetwork.com 67

Step 1
I transferred my drawing and masked the
whites with Incredible White Mask and an
old brush. Then I wet the paper and, using
a large flat brush, I stroked in a variety of
blues, keeping the lightest blue values at the
horizon and the darkest turquoise shades
in the foreground. Before it dried, I used a
tissue to sponge off some cloud shapes, and
I spattered clear water for texture.

Step 2

By painting the very darkest values in the

foreground waves, I was able to observe the

full range of values that would be included.

Step 3

I continued to work the entire painting,

which kept me from getting too detailed

in any one area. I removed the mask.

Step 4

The whites in the foreground water seemed

too stark and bright, so I toned them with

a light value and continued to work on the

reflections and waves in the distance.

Final

Because the foreground and distant water appeared

distinctly different from each other, I glazed them using

thin washes to blend them. I continued to add darks and

details to the pelicans, docks and background until

Top Bird (watercolor on paper, 21x29) felt complete. WA

Toolkit

PAINTS

• Winsor & Newton:
  aureolin, rose
  madder genuine,
  Antwerp blue, burnt
  sienna, aqua green


• Mission: cobalt No. 1
  SURFACE


• Arches 140-lb. cold-
  pressed paper
  BRUSHES


• Robert Simmons
  2-inch Skyflow;
  Winsor & Newton
  One Stroke 1-inch
  sable; Loew-Cornell
  8050 Mixtique No. 1
  rigger; variety of
  synthetic and sable
  round brushes; old
  or inexpensive
  brushes for applying
  masking fluid
  MISCELLANEOUS


• Incredible White
  Mask liquid frisket,
  Gator Board, staples

Award-winning watercolor artist Kris Parins (krisparins.com) is a signature member of

several watercolor societies, including the American Watercolor Society, the National

Watercolor Society and the Transparent Watercolor Society of America.