Beginner Tip #4: The Proof Is In The Paper

The next time you’re tempted to pick-up

 

an inexpensive pack of watercolor paper…

 

How much difference can there be, really?

 

Picture this:

 

Last Saturday a beginner student was painting along beside me as I demonstrated the sky washes shown in the last post.

I was using Arches 140lb CP purchased from an art supplies store.

She was using Brand X watercolor paper purchased from a chain department store.

Can you guess which is which?

 

Maybe a side view will help you decide….

 

I tried painting on Brand X too.

 

 

It was slimy…like pre-pasted wallpaper.

 

Learning watercolor is hard enough.

 

Why make it next to impossible?

 

Tip #4 – Pay A Little More For Professional Watercolor Paper

 

You’re Worth It!

 

Sky Washes – Watercolor Demonstration

Yesterday, in the Second Saturday Watercolor Group,

We practiced Sky Washes in watercolor.

Here is a slide show of some of what we did. Enjoy!

 

Free digital slideshow generated with Smilebox

Beginner Tip #3: “A Little Dab’ll Do Ya!”

“A Little Dab’ll Do Ya!” may have worked for Brylcreem in the late 1950‘s

by giving men lush, full hair, women wanted to run their fingers through….

 but little dabs don’t work for watercolorists

who want lush, full watercolors

I often see little dabs of paint in students’ palettes in my workshops.

And not just litttle dabs, but dried, little dabs

When the student tries to get pigment out of the well, a lot of water has to be used.

She ends up painting with water instead of pigment. Which leads to pale, thin results.

If the wells are full of pigment, they are less likely to dry out. Plus, it is easier to transfer pigment from the well to the palette.

It is also easier and less frustrating to add a little water to obtain a rich pigment mix than adding pigment to a puddle of water on your palette.

And what do you get for all your trouble?

 Rich, full watercolors your viewers

want to run their fingers through

 

Tip #3 – No More Little Dabs.

 

You’re Worth It!

 

Beginner Tip #2: What Else Do OJ & Watercolor Have In Common?

Some Brands Are Better Than Others

I”m not talking about personal choice preferences among professional grade paints. Love them all

I’m talking about:

Student Grade VS Professional Grade

Don’t get me wrong, I started out with my Grumbacher Academy kit and still treasure that little palette because of the memories it holds. But those little tubes of student grade paint are long gone and I would never choose to go back.

Why?

Student grade paints have more binder (gum arabic)

and less pigment.

This is why they are less expensive than professional grade and why they aren’t as vibrant. I also think they are more difficult to handle, which can be unnecessarily discouraging to the astute, adult beginner watercolorist

Since I had never used professional grade pigments, I didn’t know the difference, but when I did buy my first tubes of professional grade paint, I felt just like one of my students who sent me this e-mail, yesterday:

June, just to let you know I visited Cheap Joes on Monday !!! I was like a kid in candy shop! The folks there were most friendly , kind and helpful. I bought some really nice brushes {per your suggestion} and professional grade paint and was amazed at the difference! I cannot believe how much I am enjoying this. Thanks for your seeds of inspiration,  John W.

If you have student grade watercolors, I encourage you to use them up. Or, give them to your children or grandchildren to introduce them to watercolor…especially, if they are clamoring to paint alongside you

And if you’re a discouraged beginner using student grade paints, it might not be you. Before giving up, try professional grade. Like John and me, I think you will be amazed.

 

Tip# 2 – Use Professional Grade Paints

 

You’re Worth It!

 

Let’s Enjoy The Journey Together!

June

Beginner Tip #1: What Do OJ & Watercolor Have In Common?

Both Are Better Fresh-Squeezed

The next several posts are going to address common pitfalls I see my watercolor students fall into and struggle in. They may seem obvious and easy to do, but over and over, I’ve observed resistance to these simple tips and the resulting artist angst when paintings don’t turn out as desired.

Why Use Fresh-Squeezed Pigment?

1 – It gives rich, saturated color, effortlessly – keeping you in the flow

2 – It prevents overworking – You don’t have to keep going back into your previous stroke to achieve a deeper value.

3 – It eliminates digging,digging, digging in dried-out wells while hard edges are forming on your painting

4 – It increases probability of a dynamite painting!

 

Tip#1 – Use Fresh-Squeezed Pigment

 

 

You’re Worth it!

 

Instructors’ Exhibit & Art Demonstrations – Jan. 8

Here’s a free event to help you choose which medium you would like to try in 2012. You also get to check out the instructors before committing.

All 18 of them!

 

Recognize Any Names?

Hope to see you

Why make room for art in your life in 2012?

The discipline of creation,

be it to paint, compose, write,

is an effort toward wholeness.

-Madeleine L’Engle

Happy New Year Give-Away!

An Apple A Day Keeps The Doctor Away

"An Apple A Day," 5x7 Watercolor By June Rollins

Here’s to “Apple A Day” good health in 2012!

Give-Away running Jan.1-7.

To enter the drawing, click: June Rollins’ Art Auction & Sales

and comment under “Happy New Year Give-Away!”

Good Luck! Happy New Year!

2011 In Review – Thank You to My Subscribers!

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for my blog. I wanted to share it with you. Happy New Year!

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Syndey Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 11,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 4 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

Ever Considered Auctioning Your Art Online?

I Have

Starting as low as $10…

Curious?

Visit My Latest Effort: June Rollins’ Art Auction & Sales

Endings & Beginnings

So many people I know are beginning again.

One has joined the Navy. He leaves Feb. 1 for Michigan. He’s 28.

One just phoned this morning. “Let’s get together. I’ve sold my house and I’m moving to Cary in two weeks to start my new job.” She’s 58.

One is adjusting to assisted living. Not able to live independently any longer. She’s 88.

Today, I am thinking of these people, these brave, supple souls, as I mat and frame what has become my favorite image from 2011.

It is an image of a butterfly-weed seed pod. This native, NC plant is the sole host plant for Monarchs. It is the only plant the Monarch female lays her eggs, the only plant the Monarch caterpillars eat and the only plant the Monarch butterflies use for nectar.

It shows transforming seeds being born out of a dying seed pod, resembling hands raised in surrender and praise. It fills me with hope. Hope, I wanted to share with you.

Always, we begin again. No matter our age.

All endings are beginnings…just ask the caterpillar.