Exploring New Paper
Morning Mist 20″ x 15″ watercolor
I have always loved quality watercolor paper. Without it I would be lost. Ruscombe Mills handmade paper in 300gsm (140Lb.) cold press is nothing new for me. However, this batch of Joshua Cristall historical paper is a new adventure. Morning Mist was my second attempt on this sheet. I’ll show my first try in a moment. I am accustomed to painting with fairly controlled washes where I can predict and/or manipulate the effects on the surface. Well, this paper gave me some surprises. Now I don’t consider this to be a bad thing. All of us need a challenge to wake us up.
This paper has a high linen content and I am told that there is also a measure of hemp in the sheets I ordered. The paper is beautiful and while I have stated unpredictable; I need to clarify my comments. Remember this is handmade paper and is a bit different from previous batches I have ordered. In this case it behaves as if one side of the paper reacts like a hot pres sheet while the other side acts like a cold press surface. Morning Mist was executed on the side that reacts like a cold press surface. The color hold out is quite good and while there are a few layers of glazing washes; a great deal of the approach was direct and spontaneous while some of the grass texture is dry brush. The foggy areas are the result of wet ‘n wet washes and you can see them crop up in numerous places in the back ground and foreground. The highlight of the lake surface is the pure white of the paper.
I really like the effects this paper produces and can’t wait to start another group of paintings. While moving my studio I found some old sketches from 1968! My wife accuses me of being a pack rat. At any rate I have some canal sketches and one intriguing group of the gondola factory that was on a less traveled portion of Venice. I was 25 years old and fresh out of art school when we arrived in Italy. In Venice I walked and sketched some of the areas that John Singer Sargent captured in watercolor. I never painted from the sketches but I think now I am ready to give it a try.
Cat on hot press side 20″ x 15″ Watercolor
At the time I painted this I really didn’t like it too much. I’m still not wild about it but I am showing it for a reason. This sheet is the other half of the sheet that was used for Morning Mist. This was the first attempt I referred to earlier in this post. This was the flip side of the paper, the side that exhibited “hot press” tendencies. One particular thing that will immediately stand out is the texture of brush stroke in the background. Hot press papers tend to show brush strokes and pose a bit of a challenge with layered washes for the previous wash will often lift very easily. When I was learning to paint egg tempera I was required to paint on hot press and plate finish paper. The reasoning was that properly prepared traditional gesso (not the commercial acrylic kind) presented a very smooth surface. One had to learn to deal with the crawl of ink wash on the smooth surface. In actual practice I’m not so sure that it is a really big deal. However, that is the way we were taught.
On the plus side the color is very vibrant. I’ll be playing with this surface some more. Both sides of the Joshua Cristall paper invite a lot of spontaneity. I really like having the paper on hand. If you are a watercolor painter you might want to give it a try. I know I plan to always have plenty of Ruscombe Mills paper on hand.
On line classes: NEW PLATFORM
Some of you may know that for several years I have been conducting on line watercolor classes. Those offerings have been pretty successful with over 500 students. One limitation is/was limited interaction with students. As I get older I prefer to have more painting time. In spite of that I still enjoy sharing watercolor. I am just curious about how many of you would be interested in an interactive on line class. This would involve each student being able to post their work and for me to comment and to do impromptu demonstrations of various visual problems. Sort of like taking requests. Students would be able to post privately or perhaps post publicly for all enrolled students to see and learn from written critique. The contact hours would be set on a given schedule and the numbers would be limited.
I realize that this is a vague outline but send me an email if you think you would be interested in such a program.
Interested in knowing more about the watercolor glazing technique?
Mastering Glazing Techniques in Watercolor by Dr. Don Rankin is available direct at www.createspace.com/3657628 . A revised and updated edition of the original classic.
The Antique Shop: remastered DVD of an onsite study painting demo with brief tutorial www.createspace.com/350893
Now on View
Taffy II, watercolor 35″ x 25″ unframed
A lot has happened since my last post. I’ll not bore you with all of the details, except to say I have a new studio, not yet fully operational, recovering from two surgeries, a new home and a new email provider. Taffy II is an older work that has never been publicly exhibited nor offered for sale. Why you may ask? Well it just wasn’t. Taffy was the first of many cats to grace our home and she was very special. In fact, all of our pets, cats and dogs, have been individual family members; all with their own unique personality. I recently posted a shot of the painting on my Instagram site. Ms. Barbara Moore of Barbara Moore Fine Art Gallery in Chadds Ford, PA saw it and requested that I send it to her. So if you are in or around downtown Chadds Ford be sure to drop in.
New Gallery/ Familiar Faces:
I have known Barbara for quite a while, dating back to 1985 as I recall. Barbara was Director of the Chadds Ford Gallery in Chadds Ford and has over 40 years experience in specializing in Wyeth works. She recently opened her own gallery and will be hosting her usual Christmas in Miniature exhibition carrying on the tradition. If my memory serves me correctly she is the lady who inaugurated the Christmas in Miniature Exhibitions that seem to be popular across the country these days. The exhibition will open on the evening of November 29, 1-8 PM. The Gallery is located at 1609 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, PA. (barbaramoorefineart.com Tel 484-776-5174.
Five Miniatures of mine will be shown:
Quiet Stream
Paradise Creek..AKA Marley’s Place 
Acadia 
Old Hackberry Lane 
Callie in Sunlight 
All five pieces are framed ready for hanging. Framed and matted they measure around 14″ x 12″. Feel free to contact Barbara for more details.
Want to know more about watercolor glazing techniques? Mastering Glazing Techniques in Watercolor, Vol 1 by Dr. Don Rankin is a revised updated version of the original best selling book published by Watson-Guptill. Available at http://www.createspace.com/3657628
2017 Recipient of the Marquis Who’s Who Lifetime Achievement in Art and Art Education
The Surface Makes a Difference
Have you ever noticed that some watercolors by the same artist have a different look or impact? While there are many possible variables there is one element that can have a profound impact on the effect. All else being equal, that is the same quality paint and brushes, the choice of paper can really change the dynamic. Most painters paint upon either cold press or rough watercolor paper. A few adventurous souls work on hot press and/or plate surface paper. What is the difference? Basically, one is more absorbent than the other. Hot press and especially plate surface or finish paper is slick. The moisture and the paint have a tendency to crawl and creep across the paper rather than blooming or blossoming across the paper in the usual expected way. A slick surface brings on a whole new series of effect. Some of it can be quite magical while for some painters the whole thing becomes a nightmare.
My first encounter with the idea of painting watercolor on a less absorbent paper surface came about while learning to paint with egg tempera. While the gesso ground for traditional egg tempera is absorbent to a degree; it can be modified by the degree of polish one produces on the surface during the layering of the gesso. By the way this is NOT the canned gesso you buy in most art supply stores. Traditional gesso is a mixture of hide glue and and ground chalk with or without pigment and requires a rigid support to prevent cracking. Very often beginning painters develop their painting skills on plate finish papers using watercolor washes. After a few maddening hours, if the student is willing, they began to see some intriguing results.
I would encourage any watercolor painter to work with hot press and plate finish papers and boards for the effect that can be achieved. Yes, it is different. I’m going to share a few examples of watercolor on hot press boards. I keep a decent supply of the paper in my studio for those times when I want to get a different feel to a subject. Often the color is brighter and more vibrant. The reason is that the color dries mainly on the surface and has less tendency to sink into the sheet. One word of caution. Since the paint is on the surface it can easily be disturbed and create mud. 
Melting Off , 16″ x 7″ (40.64 x 17.78 cm ) Watercolor on High Surface/ Plate Finish paper board. From the Collection of Sonat, Inc.
The palette was simple combination of vermilion, thalo blue with some gamboge and a dose of black India ink in the foreground, with much of the tree line poured onto the dampened surface and allowed to blend and puddle.
Compare that with the following effect on a traditional sheet of watercolor paper with a coldpress surface.
March, 18.5″ x 32.5″ (48 x 38 cm) Watercolor on 140lb. D’Arches paper. Private Collection
While the palettes are similar the dark passages are softer, the blending is more subtle, creating a quieter image. The basic message is that the paper surface can contribute to making a big difference in the presentation and the feeling in a work.
The Quarry, 10.5″ x 21.25″ (27 x 54 cm) Strathmore hot press rag illustration board. Artist Collection
The mood and the palette are different. But note the sharp edges in defining the rocks on the edge of the waterline. If you look carefully you can see hints of Gamboge in the upper edges of the treeline and in the limestone rock of the quarry’s edge. The colors in this work are Thalo Blue, Gamboge and Winsor red blended in with blue to create the darker passages.
Want to know more about watercolor glazing techniques?
Mastering Glazing Techniques in Watercolor, Vol I by Dr. Don Rankin: BUY DIRECT at http://www.createspace.com/3657628
ON LINE WATERCOLOR COURSES: Join Don and learn more about watercolor glazing techniques at your own pace in your own home. Level I covers the basic techniques for developing wonderful glazing effects. The course is designed using simple exercises to acquaint you with the underlying principles of watercolor glazing. It also directs you in the better choices of color selection and the proper sequence of application. You can stop the video, do an exercise, master it and continue or review as you wish.
https://www.Udemy.com/mastering-glazing-techniques-in-watercolor/
Level II is a full (real time) demo in the artist’s studio. The only editing is the omission of the drying time between some of the washes. See the progression from beginning to end.
https://www.Udemy.com/mastering-glazing-techniques-in-watercolor-level-II/
2017 recipient of Marquis Who’s Who Lifetime Achiever Award in Art and Education
A Place Remembered
Le
December Mist Watercolor 40″ x 25.5″
Perhaps this painting needs a bit of explanation. This goes against the old maxim that if you have to explain it, its no good. There is a story here, at least for me. I have painted at least three pieces on this site. Each one is connected to the place. This area was once a bustling American Indian community. Portions of this stream was lined with white clay and the running water was clear. I recall being shocked at finding the white clay tile lining a portion of the stream. Who put them there? Was it done by the original community? Questions for which I have no answers. Many of the trees are magnificent Beech trees. Their bark is smooth, yet rugged, and in some ways resemble concrete pillars. The light changes with the season and the time of day. Time and water has eroded portions of the stream bed wall revealing a network of roots that nourish the growth along the banks. There is a presence here. You can feel it if you quietly sit or walk among the giant trees.
Even in the dead of winter the Beech trees often hold on to a few of their summer leaves. At times they curl and become almost transparent in the winter sun but they hold on none the less. I see them as a silent testimony to the original people of this land. They remind me of the ones who did not get swept away in the Trail of Tears. The ones who still call Alabama their home.
I was there on a chilly winter morning with the rising sun burning through the morning mist with only the sound of the quietly running water as it slowly made its way through the old camp.
Want to know more about watercolor glazing techniques?
Mastering Glazing Techniques in Watercolor, Vol 1 by Dr. Don Rankin buy direct at http://www.createspace.com/3657628
ON LINE COURSES: Join Don and Learn more about watercolor glazing techniques at you own pace: Level 1: https://www.Udemy.com/mastering-glazing-techniques-in-watercolor/
Level 2: https://www.Udemy.com/mastering-glazing-techniques-in-watercolor-level-II/
2017 recipient of Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award in Art and Education
Revisiting Old Paintings
Milking Time 27″ x 14.75″ watercolor
This painting is a part of a larger story. The actual piece had its beginnings a little over 30 years ago. I just recently finished the work but I think there is a valuable object lesson to be shared. From time to time in my career I have been involved in painting portraits. One of my most unusual as well as gratifying opportunities came when a land owner commissioned me to do a portrait. Not an usual request. However, there was one exception. This “family” member was a prize bull. I accepted the challenge and the painting was well received and was hung in a prominent location in the house.
During my time in the pasture I had an opportunity to see the light change and create many wonderful shapes as it played across the ground and the cattle. Milking time was inspired by that portrait session. Even though these cows had nothing to do with the bull and were kept in a separate pasture I was attracted to the light and the shapes they made as they patiently awaited milking. A few weeks later I began to piece together my sketches and ideas and began the painting in my studio. After a few days I just seemed to lose energy and questioned my original idea. I set the watercolor, still secured to one of my plywood boards, aside.
Losing the energy:
As I wrote in the beginning that was a little over thirty years ago. Perhaps the rest of the story will support my wife’s contention that I suffer from packratism! Thirty years is a long time to ignore a piece of work that just somehow wasn’t clicking. At least in my mind I just couldn’t get up the enthusiasm to finish the painting. A few days ago I discovered the old watercolor after I had completed another work. It was patiently waiting, still secure and no worse for the wait. I looked at the old piece and decided that it did have some potential after all. I began to apply new washes with a great deal of intent. After a few days of glazing and dry brushing I consider it finished.
Milking Time in it’s beginning stages.
This photo was taken before I added any more work to the piece. It is a good opportunity for everyone to see what happens as more washes and refining strokes are applied.
The Moral of the Story?
While I don’t really recommend waiting thirty years to solve visual challenges in a painting; it is often good to put a painting away for a bit of time. I recommend this if you are having a problem trying to figure out what is going wrong in the work. Putting a piece out of sight for 2-3 days can do wonders for your process. If you are terribly impatient placing your painting so you can see its reflection in a mirror will help you see areas that are not working. If you are a painter don’t be too hasty to trash a work just because you are having trouble solving your visual puzzle.
Want to know more about glazing techniques in watercolor?
Mastering Glazing Techniques in Watercolor by Dr. Don Rankin is available direct from the artist at http://www.createspace.com/3657628
Online watercolor instruction about the watercolor glazing techniques with Don Rankin available: LEVEL I: Building a foundation in watercolor glazing techniques with short and simple watercolor exercises. Learn at your own pace. https://www.Udemy.com/mastering-glazing-techniques-in-watercolor/
LEVEL II: mDesigned for students who want to see the application from start to finish on a more complex level: https://www.Udemy.com/mastering-glazing-techniques-in-waterolor-level-II/
Marquis Who’s Who Award Recipient 2017
Are your paints fresh?
From time to time I get questions about the strength of color in my paintings. Some want to know how I get such powerful luminous washes in watercolor. While the glazing technique plays a large role in the creation; there is another component. This is something that perhaps I have neglected to mention.
Old Hackberry Lane approx 8″ x 6″ watercolor*
FRESH PAINT: In order to fully explain I must digress to 1983. I was writing one of my first books on watercolor. Since I was writing I felt that I should get some technical data from the manufacturers that made what I considered to be the best watercolor paints. While there are a number of excellent paints these days; in 1980 there were two very popular brands in the USA. I made contact. Winsor & Newton was very open to discussing their paints with me. Wendell Upchurch was my contact. When we first began to talk, I asked him what was his job. His reply shocked me. He stated that his primary job was traveling around the country correcting all of the erroneous information that was found in so many of the watercolor books that were being written! He was delighted to spend time with me explaining the processes and the actual facts concerning producing and using quality watercolor paints. Needless to say we spent many hours discussing watercolor paints.
Two Choices: Most watercolor painters in America tend to use watercolor that comes in a tube. Many painters in the UK and parts of Europe prefer to use tub colors. What is the difference ? Aside from the consistency the most important aspect is the degree of binder and preservative found in the paints. The colors that are packaged in tubs are a bit more tacky and they allow for constant re-wetting in daily use. Tube colors have less preservative and binder and it is suggested that one should only put out as much color as will be used in a day’s session. Many are accustomed to putting the tube colors on the palette and wetting and re-wetting the color until it is used up. Then more color is applied to the palette and the cycle resumes. In my early years I followed this pattern myself.
Everybody Does it or Do They? Be honest, most people follow this pattern. However, a lot of painters have found a better way. You can test this yourself. Put out a little fresh paint, dampen your brush and apply a wash to a piece of paper. Rise out your brush and moisten a portion of the same color that has dried on your palette. Look at the results. Surprised?
Old Hackberry Lane is a memory painting. Years ago it was one of the routes that would bring you to the eastern edge of Shades Mountain. The narrow two lane chert road made several switchbacks up the side of the mountain. At times you would feel hemmed in as the orchard tree branches would scrape across the fender or roof of your car. Luckily, I never encountered an oncoming car. There were no street lights and often in the fall and winter as the night began to fall the bare branches would be cloaked in the gathering gloom of mist and the settling of smoke from the numerous fireplaces. Painting luminous darks can often be a challenge. I prefer to create the dark using a wet into wet technique, layering fresh dark colors over a vibrant under painting. The fresh color is more powerful and luminous. Simple to apply yet profound in effect. If you are new to this the power of the color can be scary. However, it is a good idea to practice and see what it can do. *Original on view at Andrew Wyeth Gallery, Chadds Ford, PA
Want to know more about watercolor glazing techniques ? Mastering Glazing Techniques in Watercolor, Volume I by Dr. Don Rankin is available.
Just go to http://createspace.com/3657628
Watercolor Classes online: Mastering Glazing Techniques in Watercolor with Dr. Don Rankin. Lifetime access of beginning principles at http://www.Udemy.com/mastering-glazing-techniques-in-watercolor/
LEVEL II: an in studio demonstration of the watercolor glazing technique. Preview at: https://www.Udemy.com/mastering-glazing-techniques-in-watercolor-level-II/
Let’s Celebrate Light and Life !
Let’s face it; without light things would be pretty dismal. In fact without light there would be no life. In my painting career I have celebrated light in all of its incredible manifestations. Light and life go hand in hand. Toward that end I want to share a recent painting, actually this is a watercolor study. This study will be used to develop a larger egg tempera painting. This study has a story; so here goes.
Callie in sunlight 8.5″ x 6″ watercolor on paper
Animals have always played a large role in our household. Almost all of our furry children are rescues of one sort or another. The first cat came into our household when my daughter was around 8 years old. That has been more years than I wish to think about. So a little over 16 years ago my daughter, Carol, came to visit from one of her business trips carrying a furry ball in her arms. She had already been named Callie since it was obvious that she was a Calico. Callie had been rescued from starvation in a town where my daughter had been sent to do some field work.
Callie needed a home and like others before her, we welcomed her into our home. As everyone knows cats are not like dogs and pretty soon Callie became pretty much the dominant pet in our home. There was one exception, our Golden Retriever mix didn’t like cats. There was always barking and snarling and threats but no bloodshed. Detente reigned. In fact it was quite comical.
A little over a year ago Callie became quite ill and we went to the vet. They did a number of things for a cat that had been lethargic and with little appetite. Callie pulled through. Her personality changed. Our fairly quiet cat had become vocal and demanding, always seeking food. She started slipping out onto the deck in our fenced in backyard. She would sit for hours on the deck gazing and dozing in the fresh air. She would even brazenly strut close to Marley, our retriever, as if to say, “What are you going to do about it?” Talk about chutzpah, she displayed it in her final days. About two months ago Callie died and now rests under a stump in one of her favorite haunts in our backyard.
At this point in our life she will be the last cat to grace our home. This watercolor was inspired by one of those moments when she sat in the sunlight in our den gazing out onto the deck she loved. The light seemed to illuminate her as she melded into the light. Little did I know that she was nearing the end of her days.
Revisiting old sketches, places
Nova Scotia 21″ x 14″ Watercolor
The end of July is come and like other parts of the country, Alabama is under sweltering heat. Currently I am sitting in the cool of my studio waiting for a wash to dry. Momma red-tail hawk is outside my studio window calling in a shrill voice urging her young children to fly. Her sound reminds me of younger days and being outdoors in all sorts of weather sketching and painting. These days my activity is a bit curtailed. Geneal and I spent the last part of April and part of May in northern California. She had never been and I got to revisit places of my youth when I would spend time in California with relatives. Of all the state, I prefer northern California. However, it is a beautiful state with a lot to offer any visitor. My travel has been restricted for several years and perhaps this was a bit risky. The only down side was a case of HAPE, high altitude pulmonary endema. I’m still working through that. If you are getting on in years be very careful about airplane rides.
At any rate we came back with tons of videos, photos and sketches. Memories in a can, if you will. Those things are great but the personal experience is worth more than all of the reference. A lot of folks are anxious to see my California pieces. Knowing my way of working, it may be a while. I like to let things percolate inside of me before I put brush to paper. Sometimes it happens quickly, at other times it is a slow, perhaps painful, process. In the meantime I am working on a piece that I sketched many years ago in Nova Scotia. Talk about hopping the continent! While publishing two of my first watercolor books I spent time in Maine and Nova Scotia. I think viewing the Pacific and the Big Sur prompted me to compare it to the Atlantic coast. While both are beautiful, they are different.
I remember the day I reluctantly left Maine to board an overnight ferry to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. The rest of the family was up for it but I really loved Maine and felt that anything else would be anti-climatic. Well, I was very wrong. Nova Scotia was incredible. I made two trips up while writing my books. The first trip was in the Spring and the return was in the Fall after all of the tourists were gone. I have always been drawn to wilderness and the population was not crowded. In some cases the foot print of mankind was not as evident as in other places. The color of the water, the trees and the salt in the air has a presence that is different from any other place. The light is incredible. As I looked at my recent efforts in California the effect and contrast became very evident. While there are several physical differences there is an atmosphere that any coastal area seems to possess. While the atmosphere has similarities, it also has striking differences. Those differences are extremely important. Those are the things that I seek to embody in my work.
Nova Scotia:
This current work has haunted me for years. It has haunted me every time I looked at my sketches or the photos I took,but I kept delaying. Finally, I told myself it was time to paint. I have no explanation for the delay. It just happens. I wasn’t ready. Now the time had come. I’ll digress and provide a little history. I remember that it was an early morning well before midday. The light is very different and in combination with the atmosphere it renders objects in a more dramatic way than in other latitudes. At least that is my experience. The light, the air, the stillness was like a magnet that drew me in.
Materials:
I used a 140 lb. cold press sheet of Kilamanjaro watercolor paper. The paints were Andrew’s Turquoise from American Journey (available at Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff). M. Graham Gamboge, Holbein Marine Blue, Holbein Leaf Green, M. Graham Sap Green, Holbein Marine Blue, Winsor & Newton Perylene Maroon, and Winsor & Newton Red. The reds and blues were mixed to create some of the stronger dark passages in the watercolor. The painting approach was very simple with a number of layers of color applied with brushes as well as a natural sponge for some of the foreground , especially near the edge of the building. The tiny flowers were suggested by using a combination of incredible white mask with a handy little gadget called Cheap Joe’s splatter screen. 
Texturing and masking tools: Natural sponge, Incredible White Mask and Cheap Joe’s splatter screen.
As a general rule I don’t ruin my natural sponges by dipping them in masking fluid. In the past I have used plain screen wire at times but Joe’s screen with a handle is a bit easier. A word of caution if you choose to use brushes in the masking fluid make sure you lather them thoroughly with soap first. If you don’t you run the risk of losing a good brush. Also dried masking fluid in a screen, brush or sponge is almost impossible to remove.
How I use it and why:
Hopefully the arrangement of the flowers in the foreground looks fairly random and natural. The idea that one would want to sit and methodically apply each drop of masking fluid to the page would border on insanity to my mind. However applying a bit of masking to the screen and then BLOWING a short breath of air creates a more natural, random pattern. If you hit spots you don’t like you can blot the masking fluid out or better yet, cover the areas you don’t want to mask with bits of paper. For the uninitiated we use the masking fluid to preserve either the white of the paper or previously painted areas. In this case both methods were used. Some wet ‘n wet wash areas of bright Winsor Red and Gamboge were applied first. After they dried masking was applied. Once the masking was dry, then I used a combination of washes (from light to dark) and a natural sponge to create texture. Some areas of dry brush and fine detail should be evident. If you are not familiar with dry brush technique, I’ll give a brief explanation. Literally it denotes that there is more pigment than water in your brush. It allows you to draw and create texture with your brush that is different than a broad wash. It requires a bit of practice but is a very effective technique for enhancing an area of a painting. Like any other approach, avoid over doing it. Too much pigment can produce a dull over worked effect. The same is true of glazing with layers of wash. Some painters go to extremes killing the natural beauty of glazes. Above all PRACTICE. Get to know your materials, it will pay off. We often learn a great deal more from out set backs than we do our fleeting successes.
Want to know more about Watercolor Glazing Techniques? You can purchase the updated version of Mastering Glazing Techniques in Watercolor entitled Mastering Glazing Techniques in Watercolor Vol.1 by Dr. Don Rankin at http://www.createspace.com/3657628
Enjoy a remastered classic on Watercolor Glazing Techniques by Don Rankin in a remastered DVD entitled The Antique Shop at http://www.createspace.com/350893
Study basic watercolor techniques with Don Rankin at your own pace with an online course, unlimited use of 31 lessons that cover basic watercolor glazing techniques at Udemy.com https://www.udemy.com/mastering-glazing-techniques-in-watercolor
LEVEL II: online in studio demonstration of the watercolor glazing technique: https://www.Udemy.com/mastering-glazing-techniques-in-watercolor-level-II/
Study watercolor techniques in person with Don Rankin at Artists on the Bluff, 571 Park Avenue, Bluff Park, Alabama every Thursday from 9:00-11:30 Am. For details contact Ms . Linda Williams, Director 205-532-2769 or artistsonbluff@gmail.com
Make the paper work for you
The Watcher 22″ x 30″ Watercolor
I had originally thought to title this offering as “Posting Delay.” Perhaps that headline was not entirely appropriate but I was tempted for a reason. Time passes so quickly when you are having fun. My wife and I spent the last half of May traveling through California. She had never been and it was my first time back in many years. Needless to say, I have a lot of inspiration; especially from the Big Sur. I’ll spare all of the details. Hopefully there will be watercolors to show in the coming weeks. Currently I am recuperating from some unexpected surgical complications. I remember the old adage, “When it rains it pours.” So in order to fill an obvious posting void I offer the following thoughts.
An Old Friend:
Due to the delays I decided to pull up a piece that is still getting a lot of favorable comments. I have never posted it before, so for many it will be a new image. Many years ago my studio was near the top of Shades Mountain. Before a lot of development began much of the land was agricultural with fields, orchards and pastures. There were a lot of owls and other creatures that called the mountain home. While there are still wild residents their population has decreased dramatically. Today I live down the side of the mountain near Paradise Creek and I still get to enjoy the call of these night visitors. When this piece was painted there were still remnants of wild orchards in some spots on the mountain. The texture of old trees along with the challenge of pattern, color and detail in the bird’s plumage was too much to resist.
The Painting:
If you study the watercolor perhaps you can trace the progress. First, I must say that all of the washes in this piece are transparent. Transparent wash is the only way to get fresh, crisp color. While there is nothing wrong with opaque color; for my taste, it just doesn’t glow like transparent washes.
Saving the White:
Note the white patch around the owl’s neck and the brightest highlights on the limbs. That is the white of the paper. The shape elements in this work were large enough that no masking was required. I merely made sure to save the white areas by keeping them dry when the initial washes were applied. In the case of the limbs the entire limb was avoided except perhaps in a few places were color may have sloshed over the boundary.
Background:
The background is a blend of new gamboge and manganese blue. The new gamboge was applied first and the manganese blue was washed over. Notice the direction of the brush strokes. They should be very evident. After this portion had dried the darker leaves and limbs were painted directly over the dried background. No masking was necessary since the leaves and limbs were darker washes. This is important because we keep the layers in order from light to finishing layers of dark. In this manner the darker washes/ strokes are done in a more careful manner. This allows for your earlier light washes to be dominated by darker, more refined brush strokes that begin to carry a hint of detail.
Owl:
If you look carefully you will see that some of the muted background colors have been used in the wings and various other areas. Compare the colors in the wings with some of the lighter washes on the tree limb. Don’t be afraid to utilize your colors in various areas of your painting in order to create visual unity and harmony in your overall work. The breast of the bird was developed with alternating wet ‘n wet and direct strokes on dry paper. DON’T BE A SLAVE to detail! Birds are beautiful and some of them have intricate patterns in their feathers. Mindlessly painting in every detail in the same way would have spoiled the effect I was seeking. Perhaps the alternating wet and dry approach helps suggest a slight breeze ruffling his feathers.
Texture:
The textural technique I used varied in accordance with the effect of the light. Study the effect of light on surfaces in various degrees of light. Does texture look as pronounced in bright light as it does in mid and dark shadow? The best answer is for you to observe the effect you are seeking to emulate. In this case I showed less texture in broad daylight and more in the darker areas. On the upper main trunk background wash and mid tone values merged as I used a dry brush technique to apply the darker values. Note that everything was not covered with darker colors. Be selective as you apply defining washes, think about the size, shape and even the weight of the object you are trying to create in your illusion. Study the light playing on the horizontal limb. Study the light as well as the reflected light. Once again, some areas are dry brush some are wet ‘n wet.
Paint Instinctively:
After you begin to really understand basic painting techniques allow yourself the freedom to try different approaches. As I write this description of how I painted this piece I can’t begin to adequately describe everything. That is because I get caught up in the painting. My words may make it sound like a very calculated operation. Not at all. I let the painting guide me. That is hard to explain and may sound strange. I can compare it to music. A good musician knows his /her instrument. Ideally they have a basic knowledge of music theory. All of these things are necessary tools. For many they have the tools and then the spirit comes and beautiful music is created. So too with painting. As you develop your skill with the basic tools allow yourself to “listen” and paint the things that inspire you.
Want to know more about watercolor glazing techniques? Buy Don Rankin’s, Mastering Glazing Techniques in Watercolor , Volume I direct from: www.createspace.com/ 3657628
Learn to master watercolor glazing techniques with Don Rankin at your own pace with an online course at https://www.Udemy.com/mastering-glazing-techniques-in-watercolor/
LEVEL II: online watercolor tutorial of a real time in studio demonstration of the glazing technique: https://www.Udemy.com/mastering-glazing-techniques-in-watercolor-level-II/
Enjoy one on one instruction with Don Rankin at Artists on the Bluff, Bluff Park, Alabama For details contact Ms. Linda Williams , Director 205-532-2769
Don’t Talk About it, Just Do It!
Hydrangea, 30 minute class demo, watercolor on paper overall size approx 9″ x 7″
As a teacher we often face challenges on the best way to impart knowledge to our students. Most of us recognize that our students are individuals with various levels of ability and experience. I think one thing is certain. Many of us are visual learners to one degree or another. This is not just confined to art students. Years ago I taught private lessons to a pretty well known thoracic surgeon who had recently retired from a teaching hospital. As we progressed in our lessons he remarked that my teaching approach was very similar to the model his institution had used. They had labeled it as “Do one, teach one.” While artists may not think of themselves as surgeons there are some similarities. Painters, like surgeons must have good visual acuity and excellent hand eye coordination. Like many students they do better with concrete visual demonstrations that help support any written or spoken theory they may have.
Don’t talk; paint!
Many years ago I was a student in an art school. I had come from a university and was very well versed in all sorts of verbal art theory. In the first few days my new teacher cut me off in mid sentence with the stinging words, “Shut up and paint!”. Excellent advice. These days I still take that to heart. If you want to talk art, do that outside the studio with friends or acquaintances. If you are trying to help a fellow painter or student then SHOW THEM, don’t talk about it. At least that is my philosophy. I try to do impromptu demos for my students at least once a month, often more frequently. Whenever a question about an approach or techniques arises I get out my watercolor block paper and paints. We work out the issue at hand. No involved preliminary, just a simple sketch at best and then color. It seems to work wonders.
Recently one of my students was contemplating painting a hydrangea. If you love flowers then you know that this is one mass of flower petals that can be rather complex. So where do you start? How do you capture it? If you are the least bit compulsive you may want to attempt to capture every blossom. That can be a worthy goal but far too often one winds up with a stiff presentation of an over worked mess. This is especially true if you are just embarking upon our journey in painting.
Progression:
Unfortunately I didn’t think to take a shot of the first layer of wash but hopefully you get the idea. First I want to dispel the prevailing myth that one cannot alter watercolor. In my opinion all painting is a series of refinements. I think these two examples demonstrate that fact. The first application was a general blob of new Gamboge that was of varying intensity that sort of approximated the overall shape of the flower mass. It was allowed to dry. Then each progressive wave of color was applied with increasing accuracy. Note the leaf structure in the first passage. It is no where near the proper size and the beginning layers of color in the flower appear to depict a type of rose instead of a hydrangea. The permanent magenta was strengthened with some thalo blue as the application of washes progressed. You can see how the thalo blue washes influenced the magenta to create a violet hue in places. Only a few key areas were refined to give the impression of individual petals. In final approach the stems of sap green and some thalo blue were painted on a fairly dry surface. Remember, if you want soft edges paint wet into wet, if you want sharp edges paint directly onto dry paper.
Flowers can be deceptive. Often the color is strong but the edges are at times softly blended. Start wet into wet and progress into dry applications as you seek to get more detail. Trying to explain this verbally is most difficult. Watching the painting progress is far superior. The student’s question was answered and she was able to apply the lesson to her own work.
Things to Think About:
Like other media, watercolor can be refined. Start with a general shape and get specific with each additional stroke. Look for a focal point in order to convey the spirit of your subject. If your first stroke is not too accurate seek to correct successive strokes. FOCUS. Glazing techniques in watercolor can be an excellent way to introduce subtle as well as dramatic color arrangements into your work. An added benefit is the illusion of depth due to multiple layers of color. As a general rule make sure each wash is completely dry before applying the next wash. If you need more softness or variation in effect you can alternate layers of wet into wet application with passages of direct application. The possibilities are limited by your imagination. For ideal effect just make sure each wash is dry before you apply the next. This piece took about 30 minutes to complete so don’t think that glazing can’t be quick and easy. Like anything else; practice makes perfect.
Artists on the Bluff Watercolor Classes With Don Rankin:
This is a typical class demo that is done when certain techniques need clarification. We do quite a few of these types of lessons. If you are close to the area, we meet every Thursday morning from 9-11:30 am. You can contact Ms. Linda Williams, the Director of Artists on the Bluff Art Center, Bluff Park, Alabama for details at 205-532-2769. artistonbluff@gmail.com
Want to know more about watercolor glazing techniques? Buy Direct: Mastering Glazing Techniques in Watercolor, Vol I by Dr. Don Rankin is available at http://www.createspace.com/3657628
The Antique Shop http://www.createspace.com/350893 Enjoy a 1 hour 55 minute remastered classic now available in DVD format, even better quality than the original VHS. A live on site demonstration includes painting with the glazing technique plus additional tips on selecting and composing the elements for the painting.
Study watercolor glazing techniques on line with Don Rankin: Study the beginning levels of the watercolor glazing technique at your own pace.
LEVEL I: Simple exercises to help you understand the process of glazing; preview at https://www.Udemy.com/mastering-glazing-techniques-in-watercolor/
LEVEL II: a complete in studio demonstration of watercolor glazing technique from start to finish: https://www.Udemy.com/mastering-glazing-techniques-in-watercolor-level-II/
Watercolor classes every Thursday, except holidays, with Don Rankin at Artists on the Bluff, Bluff Park, Alabama. Contact: Ms. Linda Williams, Director, 205-532-2769. artistonbluff@gmail.com Come enjoy one on one instruction geared for beginner as well as intermediate and advanced students.
