Down On Marigold Creek
8 x 10 watercolor
The painting I've shown you today is my new Yellow Labrador painting of a laid back dog just hangin' out in a favourite place. And I can't think of any word that describes the Labrador better than 'laid back'. They are wonderful, sweet dogs.
But it's not really this painting I want to talk about at this time. I wanted to talk a little bit about COLOR and the watercolor artist. Have you guessed yet that I am wild about color? I know of many watercolor artists who limit themselves to a very few colors and them mix the rest of what they need from those colors. Some refuse to use any color that isn't translucent, while others nearly faint at the thought of using Titanium White or Chinese White. "Hey, this is watercolor! You use the paper as the white!" Gouache or Body Color aren't to be considered at all. But gosh, look at all the luscious colors they are missing!
After years of experience and learning about Watercolors, I happily use a great many of the colors you find on the watercolor displays. Mostly, I use Winsor Newton or Daniel Smith paints, because they are each a professional paint - rich in pigment, consistent, and reliable. (But be sure to buy the Artist's Quality in WN, not the Coteman unless you are a student, when the Coteman may be the better choice for stretched student budgets. And remember that there are other fine choices out there too. I've just mentioned the ones that I like best and that are easily available to me.) The only ones I tend to stay away from are the extremely non-permanent or Fugitive colors. Some of these colors are beautiful, therefor more permanent versions have, thankfully, been developed. I also have to add, that at this time, I don't use Gouache at all. I've found that I don't particularly care for the way the chalky look of Gouache combines with the brighter, sparkle of watercolor.
I choose to stay away from the limited palette of primaries plus one or two, with the rest being artist mixed. Just think, the paint companies made all those beautiful colors; it seems a shame not to use them. :-0
I use translucent colors of course, but I also use the opaque watercolors, and the trick there is that they need a careful hand if they are to retain the life and sparkle essential for a successful watercolor painting. Once in a while, for a particular effect, I use a heavier body color, but it must be done sparingly, and the same goes for the whites - Titanium and Chinese. I sometimes blend Chinese white with a color to obtain a soft pastel, and I use Titanium for tiny hairs, sparkles, and very tiny highlights. I know I could, (and have) paint around those areas I want to remain white, or I could masque them, or scratch them out later, but of all these little watercolor tricks, I much prefer to use a very small amount of Titanium. Once again, "tiny" and "sparing" are the watchwords here.
Oh, and there's one or two other little tricks that Titanium White can perform for you, but that would be telling :-)
So who's right, the artists who prefer to mix most of their own colors, the artist's who would rather switch to acrylic rather than use body color, opaque colors or the whites, or the artists like myself who enjoy using all colors plus white in the correct manner?
You're right! Whatever you said, you're right! No one is wrong here. Just as there is room for all styles of painting and all (better make that 'most') subjects, I firmly believe there is no wrong answer - there is room for all the ways that artists use watercolor to develop their individual styles. Happy painting!!
Heather Anderson
www.heatheranderson-animalart.com
watercolor painting, Labrador Retriever Art, Yellow Lab art, Heather Anderson Animal Art, Sheltie Hollow
