I like to pre-stretch
my watercolour
paper. My method
is to find an old
towel and lay it out
flat, lay your paper
on the towel and
spray clean water
all over it but be
careful not to let
the other side of
the paper get wet,
thats why I use a
towel to catch any
over spills, leave
the water to soak
in for 5 minutes.Just add water
Here in Australia we are not greatly
deterred as artists when winter sets
in, unlike many other countries where
the artists only real option to continue
during the colder winter months is to
work inside out of elements. Many artists
these days retreat to the well equipped
studio pretty much permanently
regardless of the time of year, preferring
the studio comfort and convenience to
pesky flies and unpredictable weather.
This is fine, just as long as you don’t
become a slave to the photograph
and totally rely on them as your only
way to paint. They are a source of
information and support. The last thing
you want to do is to think you can’t work
without a photo clipped to your easel.
I had previously painted the Old
Thames Barges above, as a wet in wet
painting and use it here as an example
of the soft atmospheric finish obtainable
by using this type of wet in wet
approach. The following demonstration
is done in the same way, but just as
a monochrome painting (one colour),
everything else is the same as the
Thames Barges, and produced in the
same way using the same materials.
Wet in Wet Demonstration Preparation
Stretched watercolour paper Pre-
mixed paint and a hake brush
I like to pre-stretch my watercolour
paper. My method is to find an old towel
and lay it out flat, lay your paper on the
towel and spray clean water all over it
but be careful not to let the other side
of the paper get wet, thats why I use
a towel to catch any over spills, leave
the water to soak in for 5 minutes. Now
simply lay your still wet paper onto your
board wet side down; it will lay very flat
with the suction and hopefully the top
side is still dry. If not, remove any small
amounts of water quickly. Now with
your paper lying flat, tape it down with