Lesson 3: GO WITH THE FLOW
Here we have three different subjects to keep your Water Colour flowing: Wet in wet is about painting a subject with colours flowing spontaneously ; the subject matter is that of White Liliums. Alla Prima is painting a subject in one sitting or session. Purrfect subject is that of a Siamese Cat. So let's Go With The Flow!
WET IN WET
This technique involves applying another wash of colour before the initial layers are dry. A 300 gm. Cold-pressed mat paper was used. Lilliums are a regal bloom, which I also love to paint in other mediums as well as watercolour. Their graceful petals lend themselves to this medium more than any other.
Step 1. Here I used masking fluid to protect the white petals from the background application. First of all, sketch the design and then apply the Masking Fluid.
Note; Allow this to dry before applying the background colour
Step 2. Wet your paper evenly and thoroughly before applying the background colours. Then, with a No.16 Brush and Permanent Yellow, paint this into the background; taking the colour up to edges of some leaves and petals.
Step 3. While this wash is still wet, we paint Viridian Green and allow it to mix spontaneously with the basic colour. Accentuate this Viridian around some petal edges. Tilt your paper to allow the paint to blend, if you wish. Allow the paint to dry.
Step 4. The excitement begins as we peel the masking fluid off the design. With the point of a needle, gently prick the masked layer and lift it from the paper. Then peel the gummy material from the paper. Continue to do this until all the masked area is clear of the material If some still adheres to the paper, gently rub with a soft rubber to remove. Your design should now be very sharp against the coloured background.
Step 5. Paint the shadows into the petals with Blue.
Note: The petals are not wet first. This keeps the shadows from blending too much.
Step 6. Come back and paint Green into the centre shadow of the petals. Also paint confident strokes into the stems.
Note; Do not paint the stamens at this stage.
Step 7. Wash some Yellow Green over the leaves, and come back with deeper Green, leaving some of the lighter tones to show.
Step 8. With a fine brush, confidently paint the green stamens. Indian Red is used for the pollen tips.
Step 9. No White, thank you!If your masking was accurately applied you should have clear, white highlights in the petals.
I hope you enjoy painting these lovely blooms as much as I did.
