Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Tuesday's Tips and Techniques for Watercolor Painting

Side Loading a Brush
Here is a technique where you can create interesting effects with a single brush and multiple colors.

Using a flat brush, first wet your brush with clear water. Then pick up the main body of color, working it into the whole brush as you pick up the color. Then lay the side of the brush down into a different color well. Picking up color only one side of the brush.

In all three samples shown, I used yellow as the main body color. The first sample shown I picked up orange on the side. I then cleaned my brush and created the second and third samples where I chose to pick up a dark green.

Swash your brush across watercolor paper and watch the two colors from your brush mix with each other.

You can create beautiful flower petals. Multi-colored leaves for almost any plant, quickly and easily by side loading your brush. Give it a try and have fun painting!

6 comments:

LiPeony said...

wow that's amazing... simple technique but beautiful outcome =D

Kathleen said...

Thanks, Rita! I had used this technique with acrylics years ago, but just never thought to use it with watercolor. A total 'duh' moment! hehe!

Rita said...

It is a very pretty outcome.

There are so many techniques than can work well for a number of mediums, yet we sometimes forget to simply try it in another medium.

The more water in the brush or wetter the paint on the brush the more the colors will blend with one another.

Alison said...

That's a neat tip, and I love the colours in the example!

Rita said...

Thanks! :)

Pam of Always Artistic said...

Great tips! I love how the leaves turned out! I will have to try some of your ideas!

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