This watercolor is another painting I had to make for the exhibition “Exquisite Landscape” Group Show at the Cityscape Art Gallery in North Vancouver. This painting had to be a marsh, 18 x 24 inches and I had a few lines that were to be part of the design.I started by making a drawing on my watercolor paper.
My drawing with pencil on watercolor paper.
My first step is to mount the watercolor paper with my drawing on the board. For this I am using thick gel medium, a brush and a brayer. I let it dry over night. Then I have to reserve all the whites and leaves and stems with liquid frisquet before I can start to paint.
I am a Blick Art Materials affiliate and I receive a small compensation for sales. That does not effect in any way the cost of the purchaser’s order but it helps me keeping the content of this blog free.
Range of consistency from pourable to moldable, with various levels of finish and transparency. Create glazes, extend paints, build texture, change finishes. Gel types: Soft, Regular, Heavy, Extra Heavy, and Pumice.
Once the leaves and stems have been covered in masking fluid I can start painting the background wet in wet with a mix of yellow ocher. Viridian green, burnt umber, Ultramarine and Prussian blue. Painting wet in wet allows me to avoid hard edges on the water reflections.
I am mixing different tones of green, yellow and brown to paint the lily pads leaves and will paint directly allowing the colors to mix on the paper.
Once the painting is done, I sprinkle it with watercolor mixed with water and sometimes a bit of gouache, I let the colors moves and also will put it at an angle so I get some drips. You can see that process at the end of the video below.
I am a Blick Art Materials affiliate and I receive a small compensation for sales. That does not effect in any way the cost of the purchaser’s order but it helps me keeping the content of this blog free.
Same palette of traditional colors the great masters used a century ago. Liquid-poured means semi-moist pans respond instantly to a wet brush. 24 pans in plastic case. Also individual pans. – Master Set
Here is a close up of the textures I get with drips
Originally from France, I have been living in North Vancouver, Canada for the past 20 years.
My work has been collected and exhibited extensively in Canada and internationally. I am also part of the Art Rentals and sales program of the Vancouver Art Gallery.
Many of my paintings have been published in Art books and magazines (Artist Magazine, Watercolor Artist Magazine, Acrylic Magazine, International Artist Magazine). I wrote 2 art instruction books with North Light/F+W Books.
I have been writing for the last 5 years for my blog: paintingdemos.com, that has a mailing list of about 10 000 subscribers and about 20 000 visitors per month.
I am an active member in the community, as a co-founder of the North Shore Art crawl, a co-founder of a weekly life drawing group, a board member of the North Vancouver Arts Council, and have been invited as a juror for public art, art grants and juried exhibitions. You can read more about my collaborations here.
Sandrine, this is the FIRST I have seen this absolutely beautiful watercolor…you are amazing, and I appreciate that you are so generous to share your talent. One question please. Since this is a watercolor, do you display this under glass, or do you use a sealer, and display it as is on the board…. Personally, I am tired of using frames and would like an alternative method for watercolors.
Thanks much!
Therese
Rupa
This is gorgeous. I am always in awe of your abstract looking sketch of some flowers or leaves etc. and then how you bring it to life by masking bits and pieces. I have to try this and see if I can get anything that looks like flowers/leaves or it will be a big ol’ mess on the paper 🙂
Hi Janet, thanks for your comments, because it was the first time you commented on that post, it had to be approved. Now you can comment on any post without moderation.
It wasn’t intended to show the part underwater, but I am glad you saw it like this, it is open to interpretation 🙂
silvia
great!!!! I was left astonished. didn’t know abt using alcohol, in which proportion with water? which kind of? is it a little trick like using salt? forgive my language…not perfect english 😉
Thanks Silvia, when I sprayed alcohol, I used undiluted rubbing alcohol, just a few drops. You can try it on wet watercolor, it is not as tricky as salt 🙂
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Hello Ginny,
Thanks!
I did use a reference picture but had to move things around a bit so it could fit the composition with the lines I needed for the group exhibition where it is going to be exhibited.
Comments (16)
theeartchick16505300
Sandrine, this is the FIRST I have seen this absolutely beautiful watercolor…you are amazing, and I appreciate that you are so generous to share your talent. One question please. Since this is a watercolor, do you display this under glass, or do you use a sealer, and display it as is on the board…. Personally, I am tired of using frames and would like an alternative method for watercolors.
Thanks much!
Therese
Rupa
This is gorgeous. I am always in awe of your abstract looking sketch of some flowers or leaves etc. and then how you bring it to life by masking bits and pieces. I have to try this and see if I can get anything that looks like flowers/leaves or it will be a big ol’ mess on the paper 🙂
Sandrine Pelissier
Thanks Rupa! I am sure it will turn out beautifully 🙂
longchamp sac
Pretty! This was an incredibly wonderful article. Many thanks for providing this info.
Janet
Beautifully done. How imaginative to show part of the painting underwater. . . or did I just imagine that?
Janet
I’m sorry I’m eighty years old and not too competent using the computer. I’m not sure what you mean by “awaiting moderation”?
Sandrine Pelissier
Hi Janet, thanks for your comments, because it was the first time you commented on that post, it had to be approved. Now you can comment on any post without moderation.
It wasn’t intended to show the part underwater, but I am glad you saw it like this, it is open to interpretation 🙂
silvia
great!!!! I was left astonished. didn’t know abt using alcohol, in which proportion with water? which kind of? is it a little trick like using salt? forgive my language…not perfect english 😉
Sandrine Pelissier
Thanks Silvia, when I sprayed alcohol, I used undiluted rubbing alcohol, just a few drops. You can try it on wet watercolor, it is not as tricky as salt 🙂
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Ginny Zanger
Sandrine,
This is a beautiful piece – I especially love the composition and all your lovely darks. Did you draw it from life or a photo or make it up?
Sandrine Pelissier
Hello Ginny,
Thanks!
I did use a reference picture but had to move things around a bit so it could fit the composition with the lines I needed for the group exhibition where it is going to be exhibited.