| Subject Matter: | | | | 5a/ Wet the sponge with clean water and wipe it |
| Firstly you will need a subject to paint. I always | | | | across the entire canvas several times to |
| work from photographs, usually that I have taken | | | | saturate the canvas. Wipe of any excessively |
| on my travels. If you can't get out to take | | | | shiny areas with kitchen paper. |
| photographs I find that the photo section on | | | | 5b/Mix an appropriate shade of blue for the sky |
| Weather Underground is an excellent source for | | | | and water it down slightly with some clean water. |
| inspirational landscape and seascape images. | | | | Use plenty of pigment as the wash will dilute |
| Tools & Materials Required: | | | | somewhat when applied. Make sure you mix |
| 1/ You will need a fairly heavy weight watercolor | | | | plenty, probably will need twice as much as you |
| paper, any local arts & crafts store will be | | | | expect. Load up your dish sponge with the mix |
| able to point you in the right direction. | | | | and starting at the top of the page simply swipe |
| 2/ You will need a selection of brushes, I find that | | | | from side to side working your way down the |
| I usually just need one wide brush (2" wide) for | | | | page stopping at your horizon line. |
| laying down flat color and washes, and then a | | | | 5c/ Repeat this process for the ground or water |
| brush with a fine point, you will also need an old | | | | at the bottom of your picture just work your |
| fine point brush (see step 7) | | | | way from the base of the canvas back up to the |
| 3/ A simple dish cleaning sponge works great for | | | | horizon line. |
| laying washes of color. | | | | 6/ Let the washes dry out completely and don't |
| 4/ Two water jars filled with clean water (one | | | | be too worried if they look streaky at first. The |
| for cleaning brushes and the other as a supply for | | | | streak lines with blend together as the picture |
| your painting.) | | | | dries. |
| 5/ A small set of good quality watercolor paints. I | | | | 7/ Once the wash layers are completely dry you |
| always use Windsor & Newton and think | | | | can use the artists eraser to rub away the |
| they are the best available. | | | | masking fluid to reveal white canvas beneath. |
| 6/ A sharp pencil and a fine line ink pen. | | | | 8/ Now you can paint in the detail and lay thicker |
| 7/ Artists masking fluid and an old fine point | | | | washes over your background to begin building |
| brush. | | | | some foreground layers. Remember to look at |
| 8/ A large roll of kitchen paper. | | | | the subject matter just as much as you stare at |
| 9/ An artists eraser. | | | | your canvas. Try and divide your time 50/50 |
| Getting Started: | | | | between looking at what you paint and your |
| 1/ To get started you need to select the subject | | | | subject image. |
| matter and sit with it printed out in front of you | | | | 9/ Finish the painting by outlining any buildings, |
| or on a computer screen. | | | | people, boats etc. in black ink. The ink will make |
| 2/ Loosely sketch the horizon line (where the sky | | | | the objects really pop of the canvas but use this |
| meets the ground) right across the canvas. | | | | effect sparingly and keep stepping back from the |
| 3/ Again loosely sketch in the rough detail of any | | | | painting to check you don't go overboard! |
| houses, hills, boats, people etc. (Don't sketch these | | | | The Finished Product |
| in too deeply and do not be afraid to bend the | | | | You should now have your very own watercolor. |
| truth! You can use your "artistic license".) | | | | Don't be discouraged if your first attempt doesn't |
| 4/ Using an old fine point brush simply paint in any | | | | look perfect. Just keep trying and trying. |
| strong foreground objects with the artists | | | | I find that any watercolor looks 100% better |
| masking fluid such as boats, people etc. | | | | when placed in a nice frame. Don't be afraid to |
| 5/ Once the basic scene is sketched in and your | | | | take your artwork to a framers, Michaels will |
| foreground objects are painted in using the | | | | frame any painting for you. |
| masking fluid you can begin to apply some colored | | | | Now you can hang your artwork proudly on a wall |
| washes. | | | | at home or in the office! |