Winslow Homer Bermuda sloop
1. Take a look at the Homer painting.....can you see the reflection AND the shadow. Using color swatches from the paint store, see if you can match values and hues.
John Singer Sargeant Capri waters
John Singer Sargeant Valdosta Stream
Show Sargent and Thulow water paintings....how do they do it. (I'm pretty sure that the Valdosta painting by Sargeant is an oil, but it could be a lovely watercolor as well....the man had staggering abilities).
START WITH A WASH first....drop in some warmer colors. 1. Many times, you need WAIT until dry before applying the next layer. 2. Do not scrub. 3. Start with a big brush.(I think these are the three main problems)..and show that a lot of white isn’t really white..can be too “jumpy”. Try toning all of paper down down with a pale wash first....LET DRY BEFORE APPLYING ANY MASKOID.
Thulow Water Mill
2. Demo wave examples.........show paintings....different types of marks...squiggly, subtle, choppy.....all of them have the attribute of being more or less horizantal to the viewer. (HORIZON) (Varies, depending on the choppiness or how the water is traveling...i.e, waterfalls, rapids, rollers and waves, stormy weather at sea, etc.) Show smooth waves and more choppy. Take a look at the Winslow Homer examples below.
4. My heartfelt thanks to Brian Neher at http://www.portraitartist.com/neher (on Facebook) for his wonderful compendium of artists from the past. Not only has his site been a wonderful source for teaching, but he has given artists a huge compilation of inspiration and pleasure....I have spent hours looking at the examples he has selected for his albums. Check out his site....and enjoy...and admire Brian's own work as a very accomplished painter and portraitist in his own right.
So Long for Awhile! Paint in the Rain, Paint in the Sun....each mistake, each improvement moves you along. You have achieve Long Strides in the world of Watercolor. Remember, make big shadows! Your Admiring Teach. JC
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