Applying repeated pigment to a shape while it is still wet can keep the tone dark. For example, load a brush with pigment and brush it onto the paper; while the shape is still wet, add more pigment to the section where you first started the stroke.
If everything else is kept light, even pigment right out of the tube with a moderate amount of water will look dark. For this reason, using mostly pigment and little water will keep values dark. I don’t particularly like the way this looks, but if used in very small shapes it’s not too offensive.
Keep shapes flat and make the best of any pattern in the clothing. When working from the model do lots of quick poses: two minutes, five minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, and 40 minutes. The more of these I make, the looser I get. Often, the shortest ones are the most fluid and exciting.
Use transparent colors as much as possible, as they bring out the best quality of the watercolor without becoming muddy.
Try painting from the clothed figure. The more color the better--but the best of all is white clothing, when the white of the paper can become an element in the painting.
Keep it all as simple as possible, thinking in terms of shape, color, warm to cool temperature and large to small shapes. This will keep your mind on the elements of composing rather than on details of the actual subject matter. I always place the head first, and then move from large shapes to smaller ones, often blocking in the background as the second step.
Paint around the figure (the surrounding area) to create the figure itself. The painting will emerge from the negative space.
Try using a brush instead of a pencil to draw. A large sable brush can cover large areas quickly, but it also comes to a beautiful point for smaller marks. By drawing with a brush rather than a pencil, the painting will be fresh and loose rather than looking "filled in."
Try using two large sable watercolor brushes (like size 12), one for warm and one for cool. Also, experiment with using two small palettes--one for warm colors and one for cools and darks.
Enter American Artist's Self-Portrait Competition, and win valuable prizes!
Extended entry deadline: May 19, 2008
If you are chosen, your artwork will also be reproduced in the print edition of American Artist, on the magazine’s website, and in one of the magazine’s e-newsletters.
CLICK HERE to enter now!
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Watercolor Highlights - Spring 2008
