Keeping the background clean

[Tedos]

I’m always struggling to keep my background white.  There is always unintended micro dots of paint splattered on the background no matter how careful i try to be .

Anyone have any tips on how to keep the background clean.  And is there a way to remove the pigment that has landed on the background?

[Yorky Administrator Ormskirk]

Use scraps of paper to protect the background if you are spattering.

Doug

We must leave our mark on this world

[Tedos]

Even with it covered I somehow manage to still get splatters ???‍♀️

if you are right handed, do you keep the paints and water to your right or on your left or does it not matter?

[E.J.H.]

Hm, if you keep getting splatters even though you have coverage, it seems that resistance is futile.

As for your left/right question, do what you like, obviously, but as a right handed person, I can’t think of a reason why it would be practical to put the stuff I constantly dip my brushes in on any other place than my right side….

[Bartc]

Maybe you should consider them part of the artistic beauty of watercolor. I’m being serious here. Flat backgrounds are not necessarily the goal.

[Tedos]

Thanks all.

E.J.H. wrote:

Hm, if you keep getting splatters even though you have coverage, it seems that resistance is futile. As for your left/right question, do what you like, obviously, but as a right handed person, I can’t think of a reason why it would be practical to put the stuff I constantly dip my brushes in on any other place than my right side….

For some reason, I find having the paint on the left is more comfortable for me Probably because I’m used to this set up.  But I tried both sides and still managed to splatter some paint on so it’s irrelevant now haha.

Bartc wrote:

Maybe you should consider them part of the artistic beauty of watercolor. I’m being serious here. Flat backgrounds are not necessarily the goal.

Yeah i know what you mean, but for the piece of work I need a clear white background.

 

How about any tips to get rid off the splatters once they are there?  I’m using fairly good watercolor paper so shouldn’t rip too easily.  Water and paper towel doesn’t really work.

[Yorky Administrator Ormskirk]

When I was a mine surveyor some sixty years ago, we had to update the mine plans every quarter showing the area of coal extracted. The area was stippled with carmine paint which we produced from sticks of paint by rubbing in a ceramic palette. For appearance we had to match the density of the stippling to match previous quarters. This was done using a toothbrush and very fine dryish paint applied to the area which was masked off with film. It was surprisingly easy to match the density by a gradual build up of colour.

Doug

We must leave our mark on this world

[Ohmo]

Could the brush(es) be the source of the trouble?  Some brushes recommended for use with both acrylics and watercolor tend to drip watercolors when completely loaded because the bristles just won’t hold onto the thinner paint.

If covering with paper doesn’t eliminate the spatters, perhaps some low tack (painter’s) tape will. Or masking fluid.

Lifting unwanted paint from the paper is often best done with a thirsty brush, too. Plus patience.  It can often take 4, 5, 6, or even more tries to lift it all.

Skill is nothing more than talent practiced relentlessly.

[Yorky Administrator Ormskirk]

Check out the Handbook thread on restoring white paper.

I have used both the Proxa brush and Magic Eraser to restore paper to white.

Doug

We must leave our mark on this world

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