Inspiration
6 Making a swatch of colours is a
great help. You will then know how to
mix them quickly and not panic! These
strawberries also have an undercolour
of yellow, which makes the fruit glow.
Whilst the paint was still wet, red was
added, merging naturally onto the
undercolour and forming into the
delicious strawberry.t3 Learn how to alter and change mistakes in watercolour.
These cut-up peppers showed too much of the same tone
and strength of colour so I washed the sides of the painting
under a cold tap. This softened the edges of their shapes
so it strengthened the centre core of the picture.t2 Try out shapes and colours
in washes of watercolour or inks,
using fruit as inspiration. Paint
quickly, but keep control.tTEN TECHNIQUES FOR LOOSENING UP YOUR STYLE
1 Use a straw to paint trees. This can quickly get out of control, and you
need concentration and firmness! The control is in the amount of paint and
water you add to the paper, and in how you blow the smaller twigs from the
main supply of paint in an adjacent branch. It is all about quickness and
knowing approximately what will happen and this takes practice.t40 JUNE 2017 http://www.painters-online.co.uk
5 Now try it the other way around.
Make an ink drawing first then add
loose colour.t4 Experiment with water and colour.
A watery wash was added with a soft
brush on 140lb paper and allowed to
run into the fruit shapes. When dry,
I added the stalks. A blue background
and shadows helped to unite the work.
I used a strong outline in places around
the banana, into the apple and stalks.
This works well against the deep red
cherries and yellow banana, which
absorbed some of the colour and turned
darker than expected. I maintained the
blue shadow and brought the red fruit
colour down as a reflection through
tilting the paper.t
Monochrome,
brown variationsWaterproof ink
with watercolourWaterproof ink
with watercolourGreenery
and leaves
Background
colourColour of
strawberriesMonochrome
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