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Watercolor Painting, My Way!: A Mountainscape: L2/2

Author: Rod Webb, Associate Editor

First I wet the area below the mountain line with clear water, using a mix of ultramarine and a touch of yellow to give a blue/green.
I ran a few quick strokes of colour across the damp paper and allowed it to disperse slightly.

Leave this to dry, then using the same mix, paint in the shapes to indicate the distant pine forest.

Separate some of the blue/green mix and add water to weaken. The next line of distant forest-covered hills needs a hard line at the top, but a soft disappearing line at the bottom.
To achieve this effect, use a damp mop brush to wet the paper from one side to the other. Work about one inch below the tree hill line you are going to paint.

Paint along the line, and as you progress lower, you will meet up with the damp paper and your paint will disperse, giving a soft dissappearing edge.

You will paint from a dry area of paper into a damp area.

Allow the paper to dry and then repeat the process for the next line of tree tops. This time, use a stronger mix as the trees are closer.
Once again allow the paper to dry. This can be speeded up with the use of a hairdryer.

The bottom of the foreground trees disappear into mist.

Decide where the bottom of the trees will be and wet this area across the paper with a damp mop brush.

Wet only the bottom area, as the tops of the pines will be hard edged, so the paper will need to be dry here.

Using the stronger blue/green mix paint in the line of pine tress. Vary the height and width of the trees.
As you get to the bottom of the trees your paint will be into the damp area and will disperse. As you get into this area, manipulate the paint if necessary to improve the misty look. Some of it may need to be lifted using a tissue.

I allowed the back line of trees to dry completely, then I wet the bottom foreground again.
I painted the foreground trees once again starting at the top onto dry paper and working down into the damp area.

While the foreground paper was still damp I dropped in the odd streak here and there to indicate ground showing through the mist.

I also went back and darkened the top of the distant hills to give more contrast against the sun lit peaks.

Happy Painting!
Rod.

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	First I wet the area below the mountain line with clear water, using a mix of ultramarine and a touch of yellow to give a blue/green. I ran a few quick strokes of colour across the damp paper and allowed it to disperse slightly. Leave this to dry, then using the same mix, paint in the shapes to indicate the distant pine forest.
	Separate some of the blue/green mix and add water to weaken. The next line of distant forest-covered hills needs a hard line at the top, but a soft disappearing line at the bottom. To achieve this effect, use a damp mop brush to wet the paper from one side to the other. Work about one inch below the tree hill line you are going to paint. Paint along the line, and as you progress lower, you will meet up with the damp paper and your paint will disperse, giving a soft dissappearing edge. You will paint from a dry area of paper into a damp area.
	Allow the paper to dry and then repeat the process for the next line of tree tops. This time, use a stronger mix as the trees are closer. Once again allow the paper to dry. This can be speeded up with the use of a hairdryer. The bottom of the foreground trees disappear into mist. Decide where the bottom of the trees will be and wet this area across the paper with a damp mop brush. Wet only the bottom area, as the tops of the pines will be hard edged, so the paper will need to be dry here.
	Using the stronger blue/green mix paint in the line of pine tress. Vary the height and width of the trees. As you get to the bottom of the trees your paint will be into the damp area and will disperse. As you get into this area, manipulate the paint if necessary to improve the misty look. Some of it may need to be lifted using a tissue.
	I allowed the back line of trees to dry completely, then I wet the bottom foreground again. I painted the foreground trees once again starting at the top onto dry paper and working down into the damp area. While the foreground paper was still damp I dropped in the odd streak here and there to indicate ground showing through the mist. I also went back and darkened the top of the distant hills to give more contrast against the sun lit peaks. Happy Painting! Rod.