Wednesday

Tuesday's Tips and Techniques for Watercolor Painting

Charts, Charts & More Charts

One of my favorite charts is my chart of brands and colors. I will write the name of the brand of watercolor paint at the top of the page. Then I will paint a swatch of each color and label them with a fade proof black pen. I will note if it is a transparent, opaque or semi-opaque color. Sometimes I will add the manufacturers notations as well, what grade the paint is, if it is fugitive and if it's a staining color. If I purchase a new color I make sure I add it to my brand chart. This is a great way to see the variety of colors you have tested and tried over the years.

In watercolor painting, it is good to really learn your palette. Study your colors. Create charts. You end up with a bunch of charts. A great way to keep track of all your charts is to put them into a 3 ring binder. I have created a bunch of my charts on 300 lb. watercolor paper because it's durable and my favorite paper weight to paint on. I make sure they'll fit within a 3 ring binder and then use a three hole punch on one side. Pop them into the binder and they're all stored in one place.

Pick A Color Any Color

Tangerine Forest

Painted on March 8, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

ACEO

I sat down at my art table today and decided I wanted to paint a landscape. So I called out "Pick a color!" From another room I heard a reply "Orange." Then I began to create today's Painting A Day Challenge. This was a fun way of creating today's painting. I love it. It added an extra challenge to my challenge.

Now I'm considering offering custom ACEO forest paintings in your choice of colors, what do you think?

Sunday's Painting

Sugar Plum Forest

Painted on March 7, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

This is an oh so sweet little ACEO art card. It is amazing how you find the time to do something each day when you've decided to challenge yourself. Set your mind to something and you can do it! I started my Painting A Day Challenge on February 1st and it is still going strong. Even with a very busy weekend, I found time to paint each day.

Almost a Keeper

Edge of the Old Farmer's Field

Painted March 6, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

I love this painting! I love them all, but there was just something special about this one today. I have so much on my to do list today, but I made time to paint this painting this morning. Can't miss a day in a Paint A Day Challenge! Who cares if I'm behind schedule on my other tasks for the day, I got to paint. :)

Hope you love it too. Have a great Saturday!

Lovely Little Flowers

Swanky Bouquet

Lil Button Flowers

Painted on March 5, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

The sun is shining, the temperature outdoors is warming up and I just cannot wait for Spring!

I enjoyed painting these two little floral paintings today for my Painting A Day Challenge with the sun streaming into my studio.

Landscapes in Blue

Storm's A Brewing

Stormy Day

Painted on March 4, 2010

Original Watercolor Paintings

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Today's paintings for my Painting A Day Challenge are dark and stormy. Unrelated to today's beautiful sunny weather, yet inspired by bill paying day. No matter what, the bills can make a person blue.

A Painting That Glows

Illuminated Trail

Painted on March 2, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

ACEO Art Card

My painting a day challenge continues with this lovely little glowing landscape.

For the Love of Pink

Lipstick Jungle

Lipstick Forest

Painted on March 2, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Paintings

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

It was a bright and sunny day. I wanted to paint something cheery, which turned into cherry, which turned into bold bright lipstick red landscapes! It is fun to change things up a bit. Go big, go bold, go for color. Okay, so this has bold color however the actual size is small but the feeling is big.

Tuesday's Tips and Techniques for Watercolor Painting

White Paint in Watercolor

Ideally in watercolor you leave the white of the paper for anything white in a watercolor painting. However, from time to time you may need to add a little white accent here and there, a little white flower, a bit of white splatter to add texture. Sometimes, it's impossible to leave the white of the paper and you need a touch of white paint.

In most brands of watercolor paint, chinese white isn't really opaque even though it may say opaque on the label. It is more like semi-opaque. A better choice would be either white gouache which comes in a tube just like watercolor paint or Dr. Martin's Bleed Proof White which comes in a jar and is a liquid opaque watercolor paint. Gouache is pronounced "gwash," it is an opaque watercolor that has a flat finish when dry.

On my chart to the right, I painted a swash of chinese white, two different brands of gouache and bleed proof white both in the left column directly on the paper and in the right column over top of a dried swatch of brown madder paint. You can see how two coats of chinese white still shows up as semi-opaque.

For those little touches and sparkles of white, I would recommend using titanium white gouache. Leave it in the tube and put a tiny little dab on your palette when you're ready to use it. Mix in a little water to smooth the consistency. It should also be the last thing you add to a watercolor painting. The only thing you should add to a painting after the white gouache is your signature!

New Month Challenge Continues

Waiting for Spring

Painted on March 1, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

March 1st comes around and it's the first non painting challenge day. A Painting a Day for the Month of February is over. It's no longer February. But I have decided to continue the challenge. Painting A Day Challenge. I love to paint. I will challenge myself to continue painting every day.

Day 28 of the Painting Challenge

From A Secret Admirer

Best Wishes Bouquet

Flowers For My Love

Painted on February 28, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Paintings

ACEO Art Card

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Day 28 of my Painting A Day for the Month of February Challenge is finally here. The last day of the challenge and I chose to paint three small florals. I have enjoyed this painting challenge and ended up with quite a few wonderful little paintings. Most days I painted more than just one painting. I will have to decide if I will continue this challenge beyond February. I have the rest of today and tomorrow to decide, will I continue it for another month or the rest of the year? I guess we will both find out tomorrow.

I hope you have enjoyed my Painting A Day Challenge. Thank you so much to those who have purchased one of these lovely little paintings. It means a lot to me when you choose to buy one. Thank you!

Saturday Morning's Paintings

Secret Adventure

Whispers by the Sea

Blue Note Forest

Painted on February 27, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Paintings

ACEO Art Card

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

ACEO = Art Cards, Editions & Originals

ATC = Artist Trading Cards

Required size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Medium: Any!

ACEOs are bought and sold. Collectible little pieces of affordable art.

ATCs are traded.

ACEOs and ATCs are pretty much the same. They get one name if bought and sold and the other if traded. This is a great way to start your original art collection. All of mine are original watercolor paintings. Enjoy!

Cheery Little Paintings

Blossoms of Sunshine

Sandy Bluffs

Waiting to Sail

Painted on February 26, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Paintings

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

ACEO - Art Cards

Yes, it is the end of February and it snowed yet again today. So for today's little paintings I decided to go for something a bit cheery. A potted flowering plant and a couple of cute little seascapes. Dreaming of planting and growing flowers and escaping to some place warm on the coast.

Day 25 of Painting Challenge

Snowflakes at the Lake

Another Snowy Day

Painted on February 25, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Paintings

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

My two little paintings painted today, February 25, 2010 for my Painting A Day for the Month of February Challenge.

They will be for sale soon in my

Etsy Shop: http://squier.etsy.com

Enjoy!

Day 24 of the Painting A Day Challenge

The Chocolate Forest

Stormy Woodlands

The Royal Path

Painted on February 24, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Paintings

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

I decided to go with mono-toned paintings for today. I chose three colors I knew had a great value range and could also go very dark. With about a foot and half of snow on the ground and cabin fever getting ready to set in I just could not paint snow again today. Maybe tomorrow, there's always tomorrow ... and most likely more snow in the forecast for tomorrow.

Yesterday's Paintings

Snow Day - Sold

Mr. Cardinal

Painted on February 23, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Paintings

ACEO Art Card

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

It started snowing around noontime, big giant fluffy snowflakes.

It never stopped snowing.

Snow Day has SOLD! :)

Tuesday's Tips and Techniques for Watercolor Painting

Opaque Test Your Colors
You have your colors squeezed out into your palette and you've tossed away the tubes. Now you need to know which watercolors are opaque and which colors are transparent. Remember mixing opaques with too many colors ends up in mud. What do you do?

Create an Opaque Test Chart

• Using waterproof black India Ink, paint a straight line about a 1/4 inch wide onto a piece of watercolor paper. If you have a lot of colors or several palettes, paint several lines. Allow to dry completely.

• Swash each color from your palette across the black line.

• Allow to dry.

• Label each color for future reference.

If the color covers the black line, it is an opaque color.

If the black line shows through, it is a transparent color.

Make sure you have a good mix of paint to water. If you have more water than paint you will end up with a confusing test result like my gamboge and cadmium green in the lower right side of the picture. I created my charts on 300 lb. watercolor paper and then used a three hole punch on one side of the chart and keep them stored in a three ring binder with other test charts. Label the charts with the colors and brands of paint is also very helpful.

Productive Monday

Rainbow Forest

Forever Wild

Nature Reserve

Painted on February 22, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Paintings

ACEO Art Card

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Today was a very productive day. I painted these three small watercolors for my Painting A Day for the Month of February Challenge. I replied to a bunch of notes & emails. Took tons of pictures. Baked banana bread. Cleaned the kitchen and did some laundry. Laundry, one of those things that never seems to ever get done, their is always more to wash. Hope you had a great Monday!

Sunday's Painting Done Early

Sepia Sunday - Painted February 21, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting

ACEO Art Card

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Inspired by nature, I just love the look of monochromatic paintings. This painting was created using only sepia watercolor paint. Sepia is a great color that has a huge value range from light to very dark.

I decided to paint first thing this Sunday morning, I certainly did not want a repeat of yesterday. So far, I have painted every day of my Painting A Day for the Month of February Challenge.

Down to the Wire

Eleven Fifty-Six - Painted February 20, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

It's Saturday, a day to clean house, organize a few things, bake and enjoy the Olympics. I made a fabulous tiramisu. I had one cup of mascarpone cheese leftover from having made a tiramisu for Valentine's Day and I had no idea what I could make with it. I decided the tiramisu is fabulous and freezes well, so I made another one and will freeze it after sampling it. I love some of the english comedies they play here on our local PBS channel on Saturday evenings, we watched a couple of those while waiting for the Olympics to come back on at prime time. We only get the regular NBC channel, so I miss seeing some of the sports they show on the pay channels like the women's hockey and curling. Why do they repeat the same things in the early hours of the morning that they show between 8 pm and midnight? Why not show us different sporting events?

It's 11:56 pm and we are waiting for the late night Olympic broadcast to come on and suddenly I remembered I did not do my Painting A Day Challenge! Oh no! I immediately go to my studio to paint this quick and lovely 3 minute watercolor floral. Can you believe it? Three minutes! I was done and looked at the clock and was happy to see I had one minute to spare, it was finished at 11:59 pm on Saturday, February 20, 2010.