The Big Cover-up

rsmith.1141 · #1 10-11-2011, 11:19 PM

I've been trying my hand at watercolors lately. Big Disaster! Most of my early tries have ended up in the circular file. I did one last night (another disaster) but before tossing it I decided to smudge some pastels over it - just for fun. Boy. It's really weird using pastels on watercolor paper!

9 x 12 - all kinds of stuff on watercolor paper

Here a little detail:

pointy · #2 10-12-2011, 12:34 AM

what a great save, these are really nice

equinespirit · #3 10-12-2011, 03:08 AM

This worked out really well!

**allydoodle** · #4 10-12-2011, 07:28 AM

Every once in a while I'll pick up watercolors, at which time I'm quickly reminded of why I don't paint with them - they hate me

! I love the look of them, and I ocassionally get something somewhat acceptable. The learning curve is so steep though, and I figure I just don't have that much time left

, so I don't stick with them long enough.

This looks great Randy, there is a nice softness to it that I really like. Pastels on watercolor paper is weird though isn't it? (message: I've had failed watercolors that I've tried it on

). Colourfix sells a transparent primer with grit that can be used over a watercolor, on watercolor paper. I've used it, and the watercolor does show through, though it has a bit of a milky or frosted look to it. But I figured, it was the underpainting at that point anyway, so it didn't matter. You might like to have it around in case you have another watercolor painting you weren't happy with! Oh, I love spending other people's money

!

However you got here, this painting is beautiful!

Rockport123 · #5 10-12-2011, 09:32 AM

I think you've managed a great save!
Marlene

barriespapa · #6 10-12-2011, 12:10 PM

Well Randy i think it turned out quite well. I strarted painting in watercolor,and can just barely get a pass mark My post baby in utero was originally a watercolour and i pasteled it I never found it strange or weird to do on waterpaper but it was one of my first times using pastels. Seems there is always something new to learn .
David

rsmith.1141 · #7 10-12-2011, 01:24 PM

Thanks everyone. If I don't get better at these watercolors then I may have plenty of opportunities to try pastels on watercolor paper.

rsmith.1141 · #8 10-12-2011, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allydoodle

Every once in a while I'll pick up watercolors, at which time I'm quickly reminded of why I don't paint with them - they hate me

! I love the look of them, and I ocassionally get something somewhat acceptable. The learning curve is so steep though, and I figure I just don't have that much time left

, so I don't stick with them long enough. \

HaHa. Thanks Chris! Nice to know that I'm not the only one who feels that these watercolors can be evil! Problem is - I'm pretty stubborn. (AKA glutton for punishment). We'll see how that works out!

artyjim · #9 10-12-2011, 01:37 PM

I also have a selection of watercolours that I had previously thought about working over. Seeing the great result you have had is tempting me to do likewise.

Constellation · #10 10-13-2011, 10:34 AM

Give those trees a few more hi-lites, some rocks in the foreground and FRAME it..... it's wonderful.... I love the color of the rocks.... Donna R

santosi · #11 10-13-2011, 11:36 AM

I think it worked out very well. It gives you nice blended paint.

sketchZ1ol · #12 10-14-2011, 07:11 AM

hello
good save !
on my old screen i had to juggle and bring it close to scale
and i'm glad i did .
- easier to see blends and textures ,
and looks even better overall .

Ed :}

IMaybe · #13 10-14-2011, 01:15 PM

Randy, now that you have taken the plunge keep up the experimenting on the water color paper!!! I use it often, and recently did a plein-air on watercolor paper which I prepared with some ground from Golden for watercolor paper, then pastle use-------the best thin is that you can go out to PA-----make an underpainting with watercolor right over this----then it takes just a little time to dry----and finishe with the pastle---its great fun, and the watercolor underpainting helps a lot on that white paper-------Anyhow, all I mean is go ahead and experiment on the w/c paper----its so versitle and you can get loose if you like.

bnoonan · #14 10-14-2011, 01:24 PM

You know what... there are a lot of pastelists using this method. I think it works but you have to make sure you have fixed it I would imagine.

Anything that takes away the "light or white" of the paper in the area you want it to be covered works pretty good.

I agree with the others...do more and "dance" with the watercolor underpainting as Richard McKinley would say.

Barb

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