This is a demonstration of painting on dry paper and allowing each wash to dry completely before adding more. The idea is to keep each shape flat (no gradation or variation in the wash) and to ignore perspective. I started with an outline drawing done first on a small scale and then on the watercolor paper a size 22x30in. It would be a good idea to do a value sketch but I had a good idea where the whites and darks were going to be so I didn't do one.
Since the subject is based on the Southwest I wanted a warm painting and settled on red as the first wash. I painted in several parts of the painting using this "mother" color while still preserving a lot of white paper. I will decide as I go along what parts of the painting will remain white.
The entire painting was done with these two brushes, a 2 inch flat and a number 36 round. Both are Robert Simmons synthetic brushes. I don't think you need expensive sable brushes but you do need large brushes!
Wait until each "layer" is completely dry or use your hair dryer. If the paper feels cool to the back of your fingers it is not dry!
Here I have introduced green, the compliment of red. That one little section where I painted green over red created a 'shark' shape in the top of the tree. I will try to get rid of that or at least diminish it in subsequent washes.
Added another wash of the red over the sky to make it richer and darker. This time I left some 'doves' on the left that I forgot the first time. Yellow over red in a few spots creates orange.
Here I have added quite a few more shapes. That is what we are doing, just making shapes and overlapping them at times. Still have that 'shark' in the tree!
Wait till it drys and add more shapes. A wonderful thing about painting this way is that you can paint on the same painting for days just adding a shape or two a day if that's all you have time for.
I decided to keep the figures pretty simple in keeping with the painting. Of course figures become the center of attention when added to a painting. The 'statue' counts as a figure.
I'm gradually cutting in on the remaining white shapes and could have stopped here and probably should have! Did I disguise the 'shark'?
I wanted another cross shape on the building on the right so I used drafting tape to tape off the shape and then brushed the shape with plain water and blotted with a paper towel. I repeated that until it was the desired lightness. Use drafting tape, it doesn't stick too tight to the paper. Masking tape is likely to remove some paint or even tear the paper when removing.
The finished painting!
"New Mexico Memories"
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