Developing this skill allows you to
create wonderful random patterns. It
can be used as tree branches and
trunks; to create tendrils of vines,
and the refraction of light. Magic.
(See Fig 5. Diamonds)
Exercise Four:
Back to the dry brush. You’ll need:
- French Ultramarine Blue
- White
Now for the surface and the light.
Thankfully, in this exercise, this is
relatively easy – both elements can
be painted with one technique.
When using acrylics, the next part
is easier if your previous work is
dry. Make sure you have a very dry
brush (size 6 or 8) with the tiniest
amount of pigment and make a
series of very shallow W's. These
W's represent the sky reflecting on
the backs of the small waves.
Experiment first to make sure you
have the right amount of paint on
your brush.
They seem to sit above the substrate
creating the illusion of depth.
Do not paint them neatly and in
rows. They will look like a backdrop
for a pantomime. They should
look something like this. As you
develop your confidence you can
make this effect as complicated
or as simple as you like.
(See Fig 6. Shallows)
That's it! You have painted water.
AND, investigated the possibilities
of very simple applications of a
paintbrush. Those of you who read
the last article will notice some of
the similarities in these techniques.
Spot on. They are very similar,
and very simple. But there’s
a big difference between the
pictures in the last article and this
one. You could easily create a
completely different image again,
using these same techniques.
My approach is always to simplify.
Simplifying means knowing exactly
what limited brushes will do and build
your skills from there. I know, I know,
I’ve said it before! I promise I will
move on from this, but I really want
to emphasise how much scope you
have to create magic by mastering
the three above techniques, and in
the process develop a good working
relationship with your brushes.
In the next article, we will look at
where different paintbrushes can fall
down, and some common problems
encountered (as well as some ways
around these problems!). nFig 5. Diamonds“Be aware that
if you wish to
create the illusion
of distance then
you must adjust
the size of the
"diamonds" as
they recede into
the distance.”