Technique tests
Added 2019-01-28 13:51:39 +0000 UTCI tried a few things today - firstly, an idea I had recently, to paint waves by "masking off" the white foam with a white candle. I'm not 100% sure how archival birthday candle is, but it's definitely a start.
For another piece - first proposed by Lintie a while back, of Fingon and Maedhros standing at opposite shores during the burning of the ships - I tried whether my new favourite paper was salt-compatible. And holy WOW.
As far as I can tell, I'm the only watercolour artist I know who is perpetually and hopelessly questing for The Perfect Paper. Every time in my life when I thought I had it, it was discontinued, or there was something important it can't do. Hahnemühle Expression so far seems to be the egg-laying wool milk sow (as we say in German for something impossibly versatile). What it doesn't really allow is lifting of paint, but it seems that this feature is imcompatible with good layering, so I'll take the latter. It's not just good, but perfect for everything else - smooth gradients, exact detail work, many layers and no caking, very wet washes - and SALT!
... Yes, I have proposed. But don't tell my husband. Or the six blocks of Canson Vidalon stashed under the bed.
Comments
I love your nerding-out-over-paper posts! 😊
Alexandra Rena
2019-01-31 15:30:42 +0000 UTCI have not put much effort in comparing various papers for my artistic use yet, though I know good materials are important for the outcome. But I am glad you share your own experience, so I know where to look when I want to buy something good. :-)
Matěj Čadil
2019-01-29 13:22:34 +0000 UTCI'm not even any kind of visual artist but it's always so fascinating to get some understanding how they work. Strange species, said the amateur writer. ;)
Ninchen
2019-01-28 21:03:19 +0000 UTCNever heard about the salt technique! :O Well, I'm not an artist but my students are, and some of them are working on watercolors. I'm considering about trying my hand one day. ^^'
Laura Michel
2019-01-28 20:03:08 +0000 UTCThose waves though... wow!
Liv Klein
2019-01-28 18:03:58 +0000 UTCI enjoy your paper rants. I'm not a watercolor artist but I know mediums and tools can make a huge difference in how easy it is to make art!
Anna R Dunster
2019-01-28 17:21:47 +0000 UTCNo, I'm right there with you. They discontinued my favorite paper and nothing's been right since. -_-
M.C.A. Hogarth
2019-01-28 14:11:45 +0000 UTC
