SUNDAY WORKSHOP, 13th October, Watercolour Layers.

In this workshop we're working with the idea that watercolour is a medium of shape rather than line and that we build up tones in layers. We'll be working with two motifs - simple mugs and a Scottish landscape...is this due to my excitement that I'll soon be going on a Scottish trip?!

Watercolour in layers, workshop, Pimperne, Sunday 13th October, 10am – 4pm.

Working-out (can be on good cartridge paper):

·        Set two similar as-plain-as-possible mugs in front of you with one appearing (but not doing so) to overlap the other.

·        Make a line drawing, negotiate and rub out until the drawing is as simple a line drawing as possible.

·        Take a yellow ochre or similar and, along every line you’ve drawn, take paint up to the line. You have painted a shape which goes up to the line. Now soften all other edges of this shape but not the edge that goes up to the line!

·        Continue in the same way with every line of your drawing.

·        Allow the newer shapes to flow across and overlap previous shapes. Continue to paint up to a line and soften other edges.

·        As you work with later overlapping layers, use darker colours.

Mugs painting (on watercolour paper):

·        Now do pretty much exactly the same painting of your mugs but without any line drawing first (you can do it!).

·        Keep both the mugs and the working-out painting in front of you – both will help you with this next stage.

 Landscape working-out (can be on good cartridge paper):

·        Choose one of the Scottish scenes.

·        This is a rare moment when you can use a rule…lightly draw in the horizon line making sure it’s absolutely horizontal.

·        Continue making a line drawing but this time choose key elements from the subject and leave some elements out.

·        You can work out which are the key elements through experimentation as you work on this drawing.

·        As before, negotiate and rub out until the drawing is a simple line drawing.

·        Using the same technique as you did with the mugs and starting with a yellow or yellowish colour (meaning its fine to use up a mix of colour from your working palette) paint up to your horizon line. Soften any other edge of this shape, let the colour flow away from the horizon. Note: Is the darker tone above the horizon line or below?

·        Build up shapes against every line in your drawing allowing the layers to flow over previous layers.

·        Dry between layers if you know you don’t want a certain shape to run.

·        Soften any and all edges that you don’t want to remain hard. Note: This is studiously not an over controlled image, allow it to retain a lovely loose look and feel.

Landscape painting (on watercolour paper):

·        You may draw one line before beginning this painting – the horizon line! Using a rule, very lightly draw the horizon line and make sure it’s absolutely horizontal.

·        Now, referring both to your working-out painting and, less so, the original image, make the same painting. Of course there will be natural differences between this and the previous painting but use the same techniques and ideas.

·        Try another version of the same painting again. See if trying it twice adds anything new to your use of this technique.

Next workshop, November 10th 2024.