The Artistic Process, pt. 2

[part 1]

Once I am happy with the details in my drawing, I start to layer light washes of watercolor over the pencil, building up the colors slowly.

Watercolor is tricky in that it takes a long time to dry in between layers, so I try to have several paintings going at the same time. I do use a hairdryer from time to time if I need to, but I think it “cooks” the paper, and you need to make sure the surface is really cool before you paint on it again.

It goes along like this, layer upon layer, until I think it is ready for gouache emphasis. Gouache is just opaque watercolor, so if I am painting water or swan feathers, I will use white to pull out highlights.

My favorite watercolors are Holbein. Gouache too. But I recently discovered the French Charvin gouache and so far love it! I also love Old Holland watercolors, but they seem harder to come by here in the States. Winsor & Newton is an old standby, but the professional grade, not Cotman.

I like Daler Rowney as well, but they are next to impossible to get a hold of. Some Sennelier watercolors I find to be a little grainy and gummy, but not all of them. Their pigments are pure and rich. I always add a drop of Oxgall liquid to my water when I paint, as I think it aids in the flow of the washes. And ideally I would use distilled water, never tap, but filtered is a good alternative.

Watercolor brushes by Winsor & Newton and Charvin