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Watercolor and mixed media painting tutorial : Playing in the grass.

watercolor and mixed media painting tutorial on ARTiful painting demos by Sandrine Pelissier
Painting technique / Step by step demonstrations

Watercolor and mixed media painting tutorial : Playing in the grass.

I really like mounting watercolors on board, I can have the advantages of watercolor, a very fluid way of painting, and then still have a painting that can hang on the wall without frame or glass.

I also quite like the look of varnish on top of watercolor, I think it brings out contrasts and looks very good.

So this is my latest watercolor and mixed media painting on paper, I used traditional watercolors, then a bit of gouache mixed with watercolor and watercolor crayons. Here is a detailed step by step tutorial followed by a time lapse video where you can see the painting process.

I started by making my drawing on the paper and then I mounted that paper on the board.

I start by making my drawing on the paper and then I mount that paper on the board.

mounting watercolor paper on board

To mount my paper on the board I followed the process explained in that post:Mounting a watercolor painting on a cradled panel board, a step by step tutorial

preserving whites with masking fluid

Once everything had time to dry, I am preserving a few white areas in the trees and also isolated a few grasses with masking fluid so I will be able to paint a background in that grass section of the painting.

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.

 

Daler-Rowney Masking Fluid

This fluid is used to create striking white highlights or to mask areas for overpainting at a later stage. It forms a fast-drying, water-resistant film on watercolor paper and board, and is easily removed when dry.

Applying masking fluid

To apply masking fluid, you can use a brush soaked in water and rubbed against a soap.

painting the grass background

This is the grass background with wet in wet mixes of green, yellow ocher and burnt umber.

painting the trees foliage

I then work on the trees foliage, leaving space unpainted for the trunks

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.

Yarka St. Petersburg Professional Watercolor Pans

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

Painting the trunks and adding texture.

I am painting the trunks with a mix of brown, blue, orange and red, mixing colors on the paper and then once in a while in the painting process would add a few drips to let the paint move and add interesting textures.

before removing the masking fluid I sprinkle the painting with water and watercolor paint to add interesting textures.

Before removing the masking fluid I sprinkle the painting with water and watercolor paint to add interesting textures.

removing masking fluid

Then I start taking off the masking fluid.

and painting the grass with a mix of green, yellow, blue, brown

and painting the grass with a mix of green, yellow, blue, brown

working on the grass.

Working on the grass.

The green I used is a mix of Viridian green and either Cadmium lemon or yellow ocher.

The green I used is a mix of Viridian green and either Cadmium lemon or yellow ocher.

adding watercolor crayons to watercolor

Then I want to accentuate the contrast in the grass area by making the background darker and more complex. I scribble on that background with a dark green watercolor pencil being careful not to draw on the grass blades.

building texture with watercolor crayons

Here is a close up of the textures I am building with watercolor pencils.

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.

 

Derwent Watercolor Pencils

These professional-quality, water-soluble pencils offer the freedom to switch from drawing to painting in an instant, with no change in tools. Use them to shade on dry paper, then quickly wash over with brush and water to get a blending effect. – Watercolor Pencil Sets

Playing in the grass, watercolor and mixed media on paper, mounted on board

The last step is to add a few more drips, including some with gouache and then finish removing all the masking fluid in the trees foliage.

Playing in the grass, watercolor and mixed media on paper, mounted on board

Playing in the grass,
watercolor and mixed media on paper, mounted on board
24 x 24 inches

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Comments (17)

  1. Laura

    I was wondering why you did not make the colors behind the grass darker before you removed the masking. That way maybe you would not need to try to color between blades of grass with the watercolor pencil later.

    1. Yes, that would have been more convenient, but sometimes I need to see how something looks before taking a decision on the next step or making adjustments and that was the case here.

  2. Beautiful work! what kind of watercolours do you use please? It seems like you are working with a liquid watercolour?

  3. […] Playing in the grass, watercolor and mixed media […]

  4. […] watercolor and mixed media on board painting tutorial […]

  5. […] watercolor and mixed media on board painting tutorial […]

  6. […] Playing in the grass, watercolor and mixed media […]

  7. […] Playing in the grass, watercolor and mixed media […]

  8. […] watercolor and mixed media on board painting tutorial […]

  9. mercedes

    it has been very interesting to me learning to paint the grass, it’s very instructive. thankyou very much.

  10. […] watercolor and mixed media on board painting tutorial […]

  11. […] Playing in the grass, watercolor and mixed media […]

  12. Stephanie Quattrini

    Hi Sandrine,
    This is a very inspirational example of creating with watercolour which I have always found a difficult medium to use. I am going to try it on a much smaller project (to start with) and see how I get on.
    Thank you.

    1. Thanks Stephanie, I am glad you liked the post. I find it a good idea to start smaller, then you feel more free to experiment and don’t have to worry about the cost of the supplies or the time invested.

  13. Luca Macovei

    Coucou Sandrine,
    Comment ça va? C’est moi, Luca. J’aimerais bien prendre des cours d’aquarelle avec toi. Tes tableaux sont magnifiques! Bisous.

    1. Merci Luca! On va essayer d’organiser quelque chose alors 🙂 bonnes vacances de Noël!

  14. Like the way you’re mixing media. I’m finding the graphics take a long time to load. Perhaps you could make them around 500 megs.

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