Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Tuesday's Tips and Techniques for Watercolor Painting


Flat Brush Shapes

A flat watercolor brush isn't just for making square swashes of color. Learn to really use your brush.

• You can make the standard rectangular swash with a quick simple stroke using the wide flat part of the brush.
• You can also make a thin vertical or horizontal line with the tip of the brush and not too much pressure. Excellent for line work.
• Use the corner of the brush and vary the pressure as you swash your brush in an irregular pattern. Start with the corner of the brush and light pressure, applying more pressure and more of the bristles to the paper and then lighten up again. Good for creating leaves.
• Use the corner of the brush, by holding the brush at an angle.
• Vary the pressure as you're creating a swash to make the swash.
• With sticky paint, not so much water, spread the bristles apart, stroke the brush upward to make clumps of grass.

1 comment:

Kathleen said...

Gadfry - I just glanced at all my brushes over there and I do not have a flat brush in the bunch! Now I know what I am going to get with the last little bit of my gift certificate to The Art Store ;-) Thanks for the tips!

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