Tuesday's Tips and Techniques for Watercolor Painting

Pen and Ink and Watercolor

When drawing with pen and coloring with watercolor it is important to use a waterproof, bleed-proof, india ink pen. I like to use Faber Castell's Artist Pitt Pen. I draw the image first, wait a few minutes for the ink to completely dry and then paint in the colors. Another key is to use transparent watercolors. If you use opaque colors chances are you will cover up the ink lines.

1. Draw first with india ink.

2. Paint with transparent watercolors.

Simple as that and makes a cute little painting. Don't worry about filling in every inch of paper with the paint because that adds to the character of watercolor and ink.

New Look on a Book

Springtime Forest VI

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Art Card - ACEO

New Look on a Book

On Friday, I re-photographed my art cards to give my Etsy Shop a new look. I also wanted to show the scale of these wonderful little paintings. I photographed some on an open book and some on an open music book. I uploaded all the new photos to my Etsy Shop on Friday Evening.

Take a look at the new pictures and let me know what you think.

http://squier.etsy.com

Thanks for looking!

Matted Mini ACEO Painting

Drop Trio

by Artist Rita Squier

2.5 x 3.5 inches

Original Watercolor Painting

ACEO - Art Card

This trio of water drops is a new addition to my Dew Drop Series. I am adding a few matted mini watercolor paintings to my Etsy Shop. The paintings are the size of art cards, only 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches, the same size as regular trading cards. I have set them into 8 x 10 inch mats which will fit into a standard frame.

My Shaker Box

The Shaker's Old Stone Barn

by Artist Rita Squier

I was asked to paint a shaker box for a charity auction. I know this is not a watercolor painting, it is painted with acrylic paint ... but I wanted to share with you my shaker box.

If you love this box, you will have to attend the Shaker Museum and Library's Sowing the Seeds, a summer benefit party celebrating the Museum's 60th season. Ticket purchase is required before June 30th to attend the event on Saturday, June 11, 2009. Contact me if you would like more information on the event.

I love my contemporary take on the Old Stone Barn at the Mount Lebanon Shaker Village in New Lebanon, NY.

Tuesday's Tips and Techniques for Watercolor Painting

Powdered Gold

Add a little sparkle to your watercolor painting with a bit of shiny gold goauche. I have used Schmincke Tro-Col-Bronze Dry Gouche sec in the color called pale gold. It is a bronze powder with dry gouache binding medium.

1. Place a very small amount of the gold powder on your palette and add a few drops of water.

2. Using a paint brush, stir the water and gold powder together to make liquid gold.

3. Paint the gold onto your dry watercolor painting.

4. Allow to dry.

Gouache is an opaque watercolor. The gold does dry to sort of a shiny gold foil like finish which is opaque. A little goes a long way. I have used it on Christmas cards for a gold halo, a pretty star in the sky, a gold crown on a king. I use a small ramekin for mixing up some gold paint. Then saved the leftovers in the ramekin, just rewet to use again at a later date. It's June now, I painted the center of the little flower this morning with leftover gold powder from my angel aceo's painted last December.

Shop Shot

A Nifty Little Trick

I learned how to created a screen shot months ago ... and then forgot. Of course, I searched my computer for a how to and some odd program pops up and I couldn't get it to do what I wanted it to do. It certainly does help to know the right person to ask for a how to! I'm so glad she was in the Newbie Chat in the Etsy Virtual Labs today. Thank you!

Here's a quick screen shot peek at what my Etsy Shop looks like today!

You can visit my Etsy Shop if you are in need of a little art ... I do have little watercolor paintings that are only 2.5 x 3.5 inches! Real original works of art. I do custom house portraits in watercolor too. I am also a graphic designer and you will be able to find some design items as well. Vinyl lettering to advertise a web address on your car. Super quality printed vinyl banners to advertise your wares at art fairs, craft shows, trade shows. If you have an Etsy Shop, I can create a super cool new Etsy Shop banner and avatar set just for you. Special requests are my specialty!

I love my little Etsy Shop ... please support the arts!

http://squier.etsy.com

Dew Drops For a Rainy Day

Aquamarine Dew Drops

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting

ACEO - Art Card

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Today is such a rainy day this little watercolor painting of aqua blue colors fits the mood!

The Ever Popular Dew Drop Series Continues

Dusty Violet Dew Drops

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting

ACEO - Art Card

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Another fun watercolor dew drop on a gorgeous dusty violet background from my ever popular Dew Drop Series. This one and more available in the Original Watercolor ACEO section of my Etsy Shop. Art Cards are very collectable little works of art!

Enjoy!

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Tuesday's Tips and Techniques for Watercolor Painting

Flatten a Wavy Watercolor Painting

Ever paint a very wet watercolor painting on 140 lb. paper only to end up with a warped wobbly painting? There is a very simple cure to this problem. Iron the painting! This works well with paintings done on quality 100% cotton rag watercolor paper. That is 100% cotton rag ... cotton ... yes, you can iron cotton. Just iron on the back.

1. Starting with a wavy watercolor painting, place it on the ironing board, or multi-folded smooth cotton material on top of art table. Preheat your iron, NO steam.

2. Flip the painting upside down and iron.

3. Allow painting to cool and you will have a flat painting ready to frame!

Give it a try! If you're nervous about it, test it on a practice painting.

Boating on the Hudson

Topcat

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting

11 x 15 inches

Boating on the Hudson River. I created this painting from a photo I took of a friend's boat as it was cruising south down the Hudson River. It docked in Hudson, we went aboard for lunch. It was a beautiful day!

The First in the Springtime Series

Springtime Forest I

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting

ACEO - Art Card

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

The first little painting in its series. As Spring is slowly coming to a close and Summer will soon be upon us, I fondly remember the beginning of Spring. Everything is beginning to turn green the trees have not yet leafed out.

A Favorite Old Painting

My Swan

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting

Size: 7.5 x 11 inches

This is a painting that I painted about 10 years or so ago. It made it into a juried art show years ago when it was original painted. This has to be one of my favorite paintings. I love it for it's simple grace and beauty. It adorns the walls of one of my gracious fans.

Yart Sale on Etsy!

Blossoms

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting

Art Card - ACEO

Size: 2.5x3.5 inches

Today begins the Yart Sale on Etsy!

YART = Art + Yard Sale

I have created a YART SALE Section in my Etsy Shop. Plus, all of the ACEOs in the ACEO section of my Etsy Shop have FREE Shipping during the Yart Sale. Yes, that does include the art card shown here and all of the ACEOs in my Dew Drop Series.

Now's your chance to get a little piece of my original art with a little bit of savings!

http://squier.etsy.com

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To Stretch or Not to Stretch

Stretching Watercolor Paper, why bother?

To stretch watercolor paper, you are supposed to soak the paper in water, then squeegee it onto a board and staple all around the edges. Allow the paper to dry before you paint on it. The paper is supposed to stretch while wet and then once mounted and stapled to the board, it is supposed to dry tight as a drum. When stretching 140 lb. paper once stretched, it is supposed to act like 300 lb watercolor paper. Personally, I have not found the need to actually stretch paper. If you want to paint on 300 lb. watercolor paper, buy it.

When I use either 140 lb. or 300 lb. watercolor paper, I tape it to a board using regular masking tape. I do tend to often paint very wet into wet watercolor paintings and I have not had a problem using this method. I tape around all four sides completely with masking tape. Most of the time the paper dries completely flat when the painting is done. Next week, I will have a tip on what to do with warped watercolor paintings.

Little Series, Little Dew Drops

Royal Burgundy Dew Drops

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting

ACEO - Art Card

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

From the ever popular growing series of Dew Drops. A fun little series of little paintings of little dew drops. More of these little paintings can be found in my Etsy Shop and also on my website.

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Lost and Found Edges

Garnet and Lavender Flowers

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting

Size: 11 x 15 inches

Matted: 16 x 20 inches

Here is an excellent sample of a painting created mainly with lost and found edges. I started out with a wet into wet background wash of three colors. Once the wash had dried, I created the illusion of flowers with lost and found edges using the same three colors.

This painting is available.

The Beauty of Early Spring

Springtime Forest II

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting

Art Card - ACEO

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Just one of the little watercolors from the Springtime Forest series reflecting the beauty of early spring. This one and the others from this series can be found in my Etsy Shop.

Tuesday's Tips and Techniques for Watercolor Painting

Softening an Edge in Watercolor

To soften an edge, loose an edge, make an edge fade away is pretty simple in watercolor.

1. Paint your shape and continue on while the shape is still wet.

2. Using clean, clear water start wetting the paper a short distance away from the edge of the wet color.

3. Work the brush upwards, toward the edge until you're just touching the edge of the color.

4. Lift your brush away and watch the color slowly flow into the dampened area and voila a softened edge.

It is important to start in the dry area a short distance from the wet color edge. If you start in the wet edge, you may end up dragging the softened color further and further away from the shape. It may end up way bigger than you wanted it to be.

For softening edges, I like to use a slightly larger round brush than I used to paint the shape. I use a different brush than the one I used to paint the shape. This way I can get in there with clean water faster, I do not need to rinse the color out of the original brush.

Give it a try!