![]() ![]() Use full strokes and the belly of the brush (or use the point with purpose). Drips, blooms, variation – accidents are often the best bits.Īvoid dabbing/prodding with your brush. Aim for variety within areas too.ĭon’t be worried by mistakes – try and work with what the medium gives you. Don’t be afraid to leave some bits up to the viewers imagination. Only use a small rigger or detail brush for the last few per cent.Īim for soft, hard, lost and found edges – ie a variety. Use big pieces of paper (you can cut it down later and this gives you more freedom) and the biggest brush you are comfortable with and big pots of clean water. Paint from back to front – background to foreground. Think about tone (ie light and dark) and not just colour. This helps set your range from lightest (white paper) to the darkest. Paint generally from light to dark, but get a few darks in early on in your focus area (an animal this is likely to be the head or eye). Doesn’t add up to 100% as leaving it a bit under done is better than over done! 5+% adjusting and a few % detail at the end. Try to get the finished result in one go – don’t rely on glazing and over painting. Let colours mix on the paper as much as possible, rather than pre mixing in the palette. Lots of clean water (two jars, one to clean one to mix) – get a spray bottle – change your water frequently. Get to know your pigments – transparent/opaque, staining etc Think about complementary colours too, warm/cold combinations. Use a limited palette (6/7 colours) – strong and clean colours and let them be watercolours ie let the water do the work for you. If you have controlled pen work, you can get looser with your washes without losing the plot totally. Start with big shapes and work to smaller ones.Įxplore negative painting – can be great for regaining a bit of control.Ĭonsider pen and wash. Try and see what is really there, not what your conscious mind thinks should be there. This is your plan, though you can deviate of course. Do a thumbnail sketch so you know your lightest and darkest areas. ![]() Simplify – visualise your subject as a simplified painted image. Paint for fun and with a spirit of adventure. Fresh, spontaneous, full of energy perhaps?īefore you begin work out what it is that attracts you to the subject – aim to capture that – everything else is unnecessary detail. What is loose to you? It does not mean slapdash or careless (or necessarily fast). Nothing here is rocket science and other people have produced lists (Richard Stephens, Andrew Pitt) and they go on a bit – but honestly, they will really help you if you find your work is too tight and lacking in freshness and energy: ![]() However, I have been busy planning my new weekly classes (which start tomorrow – very exciting) and thought I would put together some top tips (using *top* in a very broad way) for loosening up in watercolour. Having the children around does not make for having a clear head to get painting. ![]()
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