Intermediate Techniques

How to use scratching, scraping & stamping as watercolor techniques for achieving specific looks.

In creating the watercolor "The Path Chosen", I used the following basic techniques: Flat wash, graded wash, glazed wash, dry brush, wet-in-wet, various wet and dry lift techniques, scrafitto, and Grafix® Incredible White Mask liquid frisket. First off, take some time to explore (and bookmark!) this and other watercolor and artist's sites to understand the tools, history, theory, and variety of styles and techniques of other artists. Once you have the basic idea of what's involved in being a watercolorist, you're ready to give it a go. You don't have to know how to draw really well to start to make...

Original PhotoTaken with Fuji Fine pix digital camera at St Antonin in Southern France Allan Kirk's impressionistic watercolor exercise shows how to capture light and present the beauty that can be found in the simplest of subjects. The composition is brought to life by the way transparent watercolor is used to reflect the strong light and dark tones found under the southern French sun. For Allan Kirk, watercolor impressionism is the constant pursuit of light. Living in the south of France, Allan is able to work under strong sunlight in old, dusty medieval towns. It is the combination of light and...

Photo: Fuji Finepix Digital Camera   “Tower St. Martin, Soreze” (2009) - 21cm x 27cm Watercolor on Arches Rough 140lb Watercolor Paper Allan Kirk's impressionistic watercolor exercise shows how to capture the mood of a bright, and and sunny day in medieval Soreze in the Tarn in southern France. For Allan Kirk, watercolor impressionism is the constant pursuit of light. Originating from the north east of England, Allan now lives and works as an artist in the south of France. Allan, together with his wife Lesley, runs week-long watercolor holidays at their secluded renovated farmhouse in the Tarn region. Find out...

A walk-through in the creation of a small painting of the Lorain Lighthouse on Lake Erie. Materials used: Brushes #8 Kolonok Kolinsky Red Sable #5 Kolonok Kolinsky Red Sable #0 Winsor & Newton Series 7 Red Sable Paints Sap Green Hooker's Green Dark Ultramarine Blue Cerulean Blue Alizarin Crimson Permanent Rose Indian Yellow Raw Sienna Burnt Sienna Burnt Umber Paper Cut sheet (5.5" x 7.5") Whatman #200 cold pressed, rather badly stored. Miscellaneous #2 Pencil Kneaded Eraser Grafix Incredible White Mask Liquid Mask Palettes - Robert E. Wood & Eldajon. Water container (2) and water Hair dryer (optional) Step 1:...

An interesting foray into nighttime lighting effects using a nautical theme, the West Break Water Lighthouse in Cleveland, Ohio. Watch and see how things unfold as Greg paints his way through a dusky nautical theme. Materials used: Brushes #8 Kolonok Kolinsky Red Sable #5 Kolonok Kolinsky Red Sable #0 Winsor & Newton Series 7 Red Sable Paints Sap Green Hooker's Green Dark Burnt Umber Burnt Sienna Ultramarine Blue Cerulean Blue Alizarin Crimson Permanent Rose Indian Yellow Ivory Black Paper Cut sheet (5.5" x 7.5") Whatman #200 cold pressed, deteriorated. Miscellaneous #2 Pencil Kneaded Eraser Palettes - Robert E. Wood &...

Some rather gaudy purple irises serve as willing subjects for working wet-in-wet and glazing for bright and colorful results. Materials used: Brushes 1 1/2" (381mm) Flat Winsor & Newton Series 965 1" Grumbacher Aquarelle Flat Red Sable #12 Winsor & Newton Series 7 Red Sable #10 Winsor & Newton Series 820 Red Sable #6 Grumbacher Watercolor Classic Paints Paints Sap Green Hooker's Green Dark Phthalocyanine Blue Cobalt Blue Dioxazine Purple Alizarin Crimson Permanent Rose Raw Sienna Burnt Umber Paper Spiral Pad (11" x 14") Canson #140 cold pressed Miscellaneous #2 Pencil Kneaded Eraser Palette - Your choice. Mine is an...