The Control of Water in Watercolour

[CarlyHardy]

A "tip o' the hat" to Arnold Lowrey for his first article for the Watercolor Forum!! He shares tips on achieving control of water in watercolour with great illustrations of each technique. Thanks Arnold!!

You will find the article at

The Control of Water in Watercolour

Be sure to "Join the Conversation" by clicking on the link within the article and share your "water controlled paintings"
carly

[laudesan]

Fabulous Arnold....

This is an excellent article..


I have saved it and will read it again and again..





Cheers


JJ

[devotedmomof7]

Thank you Arnold for this wonderful article. It is tremendously helpful. I've had so much trouble with those blooms. Now I know why.

I do have one question about mingling. Do you continue painting a single sweep of wet into dry except overlapping the previous sweep of wet color? Did I understand that correctly?

Gratefully,

Cheryl

[artmom]

Well done, Arnold. Very well written article, with wonderfully clear instructions and examples.

Lyn

[toyam]

Thank you Arnold for sharing your knowledge with us... I enjoyed the article so much and will read and paint using these tecniques in the hope that I can achive a little of that glorious softness that is your trademark...

thank you so much...

Bonnie R

[Yorky]

Super explanation of the effect of water on paint, Arnold.

Doug

[ameliajordan]

very good article, however I need some more information on "half-loaded brush". I've read what you say several times and don't quite get it. The only way I know to paint something that doesn't completely merge on wet paint is with thicker paint but I can tell that's not what you mean.

[Arnold Lowrey]

Originally Posted by ameliajordan

very good article, however I need some more information on "half-loaded brush". I've read what you say several times and don't quite get it. The only way I know to paint something that doesn't completely merge on wet paint is with thicker paint but I can tell that's not what you mean.

Hello Amelia
Yes, I do men more paint. To achieve these effects tube paint helps a lot.
To use the half loaded brush.Mix you paint (and water ) on a FLAT palette to dilute it to the tonal value you require. Squeeze all the water out of your brush (preferably a flat brush) and pick up the paint with one swipe only
The paint enters the brush from the side that touches the palette only (the other side stays damp).
The brush is now half loaded with water and when you paint into a wet area it doesn't flow all over the place but mingles with the paint that's already on the paper with softness.
Hope that helped
Arnold

[Roun2it]

Wonderful Arnold, I know you have waited a while for this but we have waited longer!!

Very informative, I would like to say to everyone, it is very difficult to explain these techniques in words, but having seen the videos Arnold produces then it all drops into place, I would recommend Arnolds videos to anyone.

[Yorky]

I would also recommend an excellent book on the subject by Claudia Nice called "Watercolour made Simple" isbn 1-58180-251-X by North Light Books which covers the whole subject of handling paint, paint effects etc.

Ormskirk Artists recently acquired a copy for their expanding lending library.

Doug

[Pars]

Thanks for putting this into an article, Arnold. I have learned much from your posts and this is a very good way to see all of your references to water control in watercolour together.

On the glazing example, however, I seem to have lost you. Did I miss a step when you illustrate the building and make reference to glazing over the shadow and window?

[Arnold Lowrey]

Originally Posted by Pars

Thanks for putting this into an article, Arnold. I have learned much from your posts and this is a very good way to see all of your references to water control in watercolour together.

On the glazing example, however, I seem to have lost you. Did I miss a step when you illustrate the building and make reference to glazing over the shadow and window?

What I meant to say was creating the shadow with a glaze over the building and the windows and not adding the windows afterwards
Arnold
Sorry if I didnt explain it clearly

[FriendCarol]

Nice article. The 'dry into wet' (soft-edged but distinct) look is neat!

I have a question, too: if instead of 'half-loading' the brush as you describe, one wipes the path where the darker paint belongs with a thirsty brush, then picks up the mixed paint and lays it in, will the end result look different from your way of doing it? I wonder because I tend to do it this way (and sometimes I trail tissue paper on the wet paper, instead of using thirsty sable, to lift some of the water).

There's a Chinese technique where one dips a relatively dry brush into one color, then dips just the tip of the brush into a less-moist mix of another color paint. One can then produce interesting blended-color brush strokes (applying the brush by dragging it fairly full-length, along one side, with tip slanted to left or right). Have you ever tried that? It's a different kind of 'half-loaded' brush. Very nice, quick and easy, for tree trunks half in shade, etc.

[Pars]

Thanks, Arnold - I understand what you mean; appreciate your making it crystal clear!!!

Best wishes,

Originally Posted by Arnold Lowrey

What I meant to say was creating the shadow with a glaze over the building and the windows and not adding the windows afterwards
Arnold
Sorry if I didnt explain it clearly

[cfortin90]

Dear Arnold,

As usual your article are of such values... Thank you so much for sharing your information and secret with us.

Christiane