How Much Water ?

[Horsa]

I agree that good paper makes a world of difference.

With your paints spend time getting to know them and how they behave. If you layer glazes, how long do have to let them dry between layers? Do they mingle wet in wet or do they tend to stay seperate? Most paints look lighter as they dry, how much does this happen with yours?

As a technique and style question, do you prefer to work wet on wet, wet on dry, dry brush? Do you prefer layering thin washes and glazes to build up colour or laying the paint on thickly?

Do you prefer tight, closely controlled paintings, or loose, less controlled styles?

These questions don’t neccesarily have “right” and “wrong” answers, but knowing what you like and don’t like, and what you are aiming towards can help a great deal in getting there.

I have also heard it said many times thatr to make a good painting, you must first make one hundred bad paintings. None of use painted like geniuses from the fist time we picked up a bush.

My Painting Blog: http://adkpainter.blogspot.com/

This is our ART: useless, boring, impotent, elitist, and very, very beautiful.

[Joy K Pennsylvania USA]

I think your painting is very well done. I recently discovered I was using too much water – the paper was too wet and the pigment too dilute.

Joy
C & C encouraged!

[kate252]

when i started water colours- i asked the question whether my cotman range was holdng me back and if artist grade paints would be better, the answers that came back- were all categorically that student range was ok to use and virtually no different – I drag up the thread if you lke- poeple were most adament and told me that even Turner used paints similar to cotman range- and you dont need to know about art to see what he does with water colour.
I would now love to move on to artists grades- but peeps on here were right- cotman is fine- especially if you are learning- dont learn with artists grade- (not unless you can afford to- if you can then thats great- lucky you!)they are called student grade for a reason . its more what you do with the paints and also the paper you use. in any case ive sent you a message- telling you about edgar whitneys aproach in teaching- milk/cream etc which i thought was most patronising at first- but then i thought- well its actually a useful analogy.

i even asked the question to artists outside of WC and funny that I got the exact same response- one guy who had been water colouring for 30 years- said the exact same thing- that cotman range wont hold you back.
so afetr so many people saying this- i had to concede that they cant all be wrong- this being the majority view.

i would like ro use artist grades- but thats only because now I want to push things more. i am still using my cotman now and they are perfectly adequate- i cant say any more then that to be honest- but they certainly wont hold you back in any way.

oh and also- as i said in my message to you- i think your painting was fantastic- thogh too dry obviously- but a fantastic painting al the same- and i can see really good future for you in painitng!!!

[painterbear Moderator Oakwood, Ohio]

This is such an interesting and informative discussion, I have added it to The Watercolor Handbook in the Painting Techniques: Basic and Beyond section under *Frequently Asked Questions* so it will be easy to find in the future.

:thumbsup: to all who contributed to the discussion.

Sylvia

[Author]

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