Author Topic: Watercoloring with ink or paint  (Read 6716 times)

Offline Far North

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Watercoloring with ink or paint
« on: July 20, 2014, 01:36:02 PM »
I wasn't around much last week because I was in a waterclass-35 hours!  I learned at lot about colors.

Below is one of the test samples we did to learn about all the different colors one can get by mixing just 2 colors.  The two top labelled colors are pure tube colors while all the rest are mixtures I made.  Every time we actually used a new blended color we had to test it on an edge of our "painting" with a small brushstroke to see if it was the color we wanted.  Of course watercolors dry 2 shades lighter than when initially wet so one is only judging the color.

In my sample below you can see the results that can be achieved in combining colors from opposite sides of the colorwheel.  Just a slight increase of one color can bring about a broad range of black, greys or browns. If you don't want the dark colors perhaps you need to select colors that are closer on the colorwheel.

Here is a link to
Distress Ink colorwheel Thanks Britta!

Click on my photo sample to see a larger view.
« Last Edit: July 20, 2014, 10:47:58 PM by Far North »

Offline howdyheidi

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Re: Watercoloring with ink or paint
« Reply #1 on: July 20, 2014, 06:28:10 PM »
Wow, that is pretty impressive.  Thanks for sharing. How fun that you were able to get that much class time in.  Did you finish a painting?
~~Heidi~~

Offline yellowcherrios

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Re: Watercoloring with ink or paint
« Reply #2 on: July 20, 2014, 07:32:20 PM »
Really neat and neat to get to SEE the different ways the colors affect each other.  Jan, the colors variations were achieved just using burnt sienna and ultramarine blue right?

One last thing, when I click on the "distress ink color wheel" I get another tap that opens but nothing happens…..is something suppose to happen?  ???
~~Melissa :)

Offline CarefreeSadie

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Re: Watercoloring with ink or paint
« Reply #3 on: July 20, 2014, 09:18:01 PM »
That is really neat!  What type or brand of paint did you use?  Is that acrylic or oil?  It looks acrylic but I am no paint specialist so I thought I would ask.....LOL.  Ok I read your post again and it says watercolor class, so the paint is plain old watercolor or is it acrylic tube paint?

And let me ask too, did you complete a painting?  The class sounds really intense and also interesting.
You know it's been a good day when I haven't released the flying monkeys.......

Offline Far North

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Re: Watercoloring with ink or paint
« Reply #4 on: July 21, 2014, 01:29:48 AM »
The teacher requested that we bring water colors in tubes which he indicated are more pigmented and transparent than pan watercolors.  Since I am a beginner I bought the least expensive box of tubes I could find...Reeves.

Yes, my page of color swatches below only uses the 2 colors-Ultramarine blue and burnt sienna.  

We did tons of experimentation but only 1 time for each.   So sadly we never develop sufficient skills to do a total scene/painting.  I will share some other examples as they are pertinent to what we are doing.  

The link to the color wheel should now be working.  I have shared this before as it is the only one I have seen on the net.  I have printed a copy so I am sure I am selecting the actual color I want (sometimes the names confuse me).

We used quality watercolor paper-Arches Watercolor 140# cold press.  It is sold by individual sheets on the large racks in Michaels or Joanns.


Offline lovepug2

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Re: Watercoloring with ink or paint
« Reply #5 on: July 21, 2014, 10:17:17 AM »
That class sounded intense but also a lot of fun! Thanks for sharing with us.
I really enjoy playing with watercolors and distress inks.

It's really neat to see your color variations.

Do you think the tubes of paint are easy to work with?
LeighAnn

Offline CarefreeSadie

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Re: Watercoloring with ink or paint
« Reply #6 on: July 22, 2014, 11:09:07 AM »
Thank you for the detailed explanation.  Did you notice a difference between the Reeves paint and any other paint brand being used?  I have a couple different kinds of paint and to me they all seem just about the same.  I can tell the difference between the set of pan paints I have and the tube paints but I really can't between the 2 different kinds of tube paints I have.  Thank you!
You know it's been a good day when I haven't released the flying monkeys.......

Offline Far North

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Re: Watercoloring with ink or paint
« Reply #7 on: July 22, 2014, 12:28:01 PM »
Watercolor paints are labelled professional grade or student grade.  Professional grade paints are definitely stronger colors and are easier to achieve gradient washes.  The tube paints really helped me become more comfortable in blending colors. We only used 6-7 colors and no black or white. Our basic colors were: Lemon yellow, Gamboge, Ultramarine Blue, Prussian Blue, Cadmium Red, Rose (AKA Qunacridone Rose, Permanent Rose) Yellow Ocher, Burnt Sienna. We blended everything.  Note-all these colors were not available in my Reeve set.  One definitely needs a palette and a mixing area.  The paints can be covered between uses and can be misted to use them later.

 I have heard several people recommend Cheap Joes and Daniel Smith as good places to buy art supplies online.

Another fun site to check out is Susie Short She offers several Watercolor Techniques free and sells beginning supplies too.

Offline yellowcherrios

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Re: Watercoloring with ink or paint
« Reply #8 on: July 22, 2014, 12:51:36 PM »
Dickblick is another place I would recommend for watercolors….it was between dickblick and cheapjoes when I was buying a few watercolor tubes…the brand I was looking at were the same price on both sites but each site runs different specials on shipping at different times…and both take paypal.
~~Melissa :)

Offline liannallama

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Re: Watercoloring with ink or paint
« Reply #9 on: July 24, 2014, 12:08:08 AM »
so fun!  I've been doing watercolors too!  A fun combo is Indanthrone Blue and Burnt Sienna.  The grays are even more neutral with that combo. 

I have been using Daniel Smith watercolors and I really love them.  Be careful of the Reaves or anything that says "Design" or "Illustration" on them.  They are made for graphic designers to paint something that is immediately going to be scanned for print so the colors aren't lightfast.  If you get a good brand with a lightfast rating of I that is the best and longest lasting.

Offline scrapn4keeps

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Re: Watercoloring with ink or paint
« Reply #10 on: July 25, 2014, 02:46:31 AM »
I would love to take such an intensive watercolor class! I took three 2-hour classes last year and have read books and watercolor magazines, but feel  I have much more to learn. I have the Cotman student grade tubes plus some of the professional Winsor Newton tubes as they are supposed to be even more pigmented.

Did your instructor recommend a brand of brushes? I got the Artist's Loft ones at Michael's. Big mistake as they are worthless. I need to get better brushes, but am not sure which ones to get.
Betsy

Offline GeorgiaMolly

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Re: Watercoloring with ink or paint
« Reply #11 on: July 25, 2014, 01:37:31 PM »
I've also been using the Daniel Smith watercolors - top of the line!  I have a small collection of the DS watercolor sticks and find them a little easier to use.

As far as brushes - my favorite brand is Princeton - varying prices, the synthetics are very good!

Molly

Offline scrapn4keeps

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Re: Watercoloring with ink or paint
« Reply #12 on: July 25, 2014, 11:30:40 PM »
Thanks for the brush suggestion, Molly. I will have to check them out. I have read good things about Daniel Smith's paints.
Betsy

Offline Far North

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Re: Watercoloring with ink or paint
« Reply #13 on: July 26, 2014, 09:23:48 AM »
Lianne, thanks for sharing about the lightfastness...and the color combo too!

My teacher bought a new small set of Daniel Smith brushes under $15. and highly recommended them.

Molly, can you describe a bit more of what is it that you like about the sticks?

Does any one have a beginning instruction books or videos that they particularity like?

...Jan

PS. In case you like to keep aware of what other stampers are doing with watercolor-Papertrey's challenge this week (includes a video) is about no stamp outline watercolor.

 
« Last Edit: July 26, 2014, 09:41:27 AM by Far North »

Offline GeorgiaMolly

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Re: Watercoloring with ink or paint
« Reply #14 on: July 26, 2014, 10:42:53 AM »
Jan....So many ways to use the DS watercolor sticks:  You can paint directly from the stick with a wet brush, you can sharpen the stick and put the shavings in a palette dish, draw with the stick on dry or wet paper, and my favorite...spray water in a little round dish and stir the stick into the water until mixed to the desired color.  Here's a series of videos to give you full tutorials:

http://www.danielsmith.com/content--id-233

Molly