How to paint rain

[patriciabuon]

I'm working on an acrylic painting of a flower market in the rain. There is an awning over the flowers and I want the rain pouring off the edges of the canvas. My idea is to superimpose trickles of almost transparent paint cascading from the edges of the canvas awning. Any suggestions about how I can get multiple tiny rivulets of water flowing down my canvas so I can drop the paint into them and let it trickle down the surface? I know it can be done - I've seen it in the work of Barclay Sheaks - but don't know how he did it.

[CamiTampa]

My idea is to superimpose trickles of almost transparent paint cascading from the edges of the canvas awning

.

Sounds like a good idea to me.
Cami

[amotwell]

With a spray bottle? Would that work? Just spray and spray until it drips?

I'd probably do it a little differently, though. I'd lie my canvas flat, put some water droplets on it, add the pigment, and then tilt it so the droplets flowed down the canvas. I'd start with a few, keeping in mind you can always add more (and more liquid to the ones you already have if they're still damp) if needed.

If you don't have an eye dropper, you can get fairly good control with a straw.

Good luck however you decide to do it!

[*Violet*]

interesting question and interesting suggestions !! ... when you do do it, however you choose to do it, will you post it here to show us and tell us what you did ???? ...

[patriciabuon]

Thanks folks. In the end I got a liner brush well loaded with a mix of white paint, water and medium (heavy on the water and medium, light on the paint) and trickled it down the canvas - thanks CamiTampa. I decided on that technique because I needed a good bit of control. A am going to try the spray bottle idea too on another piece when I can allow a bit more free form. The flower market is almost finished and I will post it when it is - and when I work out how to put a picture into this forum.

[*Violet*]

again ... hope you'll post it here !! ... ... that way we won't miss it !!

[patriciabuon]

The painting is finished and I have tried to post it but get the message that the file hasn't come through every time I try to upload it. Any suggestions about what I may be doing wrong?

[~~Kathleen]

If you want send it to me, and I'll post it for you!
~~Kathleen
[email protected]

[patriciabuon]

[*Violet*]

wow ... looks fabulous !! ... would love to see a close up ... were you pleased with the results? ... again, looks fabulous in this small version ...

[~~Kathleen]

This is absolutely Fabulous!: thumbsup:
~~Kathleen
(Who wonders what did you do to get the rain?)

[Eraethil]

Beautiful effect!

[chammi kaiser]

This is really terrific and the rain pouring down the canopy has really worked. Well done.

[patriciabuon]

Thanks everyone - especially Kathleen for putting the picture up for me. Kathleen - I got the rain dripping effect by making a very loose wash of 50/50% water and medium and some white paint (not a lot). I then dribbled the drips down with a very fine rigger loaded with this mix so it dripped on in small drops which I then dragged downwards - all with a very light touch.

My other work can be seen at www.flickr.com/photos/patriciabuon

[amotwell]

Beautiful!