Washes On Cold-Press

Salem's Cattle - wip2

If you've been following my blog for a while, you'll know that I mostly work on Fabriano - soft or hot pressed paper.  I struggle with values so I love that I can lift while I'm developing a painting.  Layered washes are a bit trickier as they don't stay put as well as on cold-press, but the ability to lift far outweighs that slightly annoying characteristic for me, and I've learned how to work with it.

However, I decided to try some cold-press (I think Arches) that I had laying around.  What fun, allowing the colors mingle on damp paper!  I'm really trying to find a balance between detail and suggestion, where the watercolor just does what it does. It's magical. Nita Engle's book, "How to Make a Watercolor Paint Itself" is SO INSPIRING!  Are you experimenting with anything lately?

Salem's Cattle - wip1 - first washes
9.5" x 8.75"

Experimental Washes

work-in-progress
5" x 7"
watercolor on paper

Still inspired by Nita Engle's book, I've been doing some more experimenting with washes and wonderful, yet pesky masking fluid. I have a love/hate relationship with that stuff and avoid it at all costs. Unfortunately, I couldn't do without it on this painting.  

Have a great day!

letting my washes dry

Experimenting

If you're anything like me, you have a bunch of art books that you've leafed through but haven't really read or USED.  I don't know what it is --- I think I get overwhelmed and intimidated, instead of just throwing caution to the wind and reading and experimenting. 

I recently pulled this book out the other day:  Nita Engle's "How to Make a Watercolor Paint Itself," a book I've had for a long time but never really sat down and studied.  So I started reading and am really INSPIRED.  She's amazing . . . and I've been playing.

And if I play enough . . . maybe one day I''ll have a watercolor that actually does paint itself!  :)  Do you have a favorite book or artist who inspires you?  

Have a great day!