Category: Watercolor

Liz Clayton Fuller Watercolor Workshop

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9”x12” on Hahnemuhle bamboo watercolor paper.

I took an online watercolor workshop by artist Liz Clayton Fuller that was offered by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. It sped by, and at the end I had completed painting a female Belted Kingfisher. I haven’t used watercolor much in the past several years, so I was pleased with the end result although my brush skills are pretty awful.

Although I mixed and mixed blue, I never got the slightly green, slightly brassy color I wanted.

I’ve never done an online class before, and I have a feeling it was huge. By the time I registered, there were over 300 others who had already signed up. Before the class started, I sketched the bird to get a feel for it, and I also did a sampling of my palette to remember what colors I had available.

I have a combination of Daniel Smith (tubes and sticks) and M. Graham watercolors. By far my favorites are Daniel Smith watercolor sticks. Such bright, pure pigments. If I ever return to watercolor painting, I’ll switch over to those.

Approximately 7”x10” on Arches hot press watercolor paper.

The next day I did a very quick watercolor sketch of the same image, trying to recall the basics from the lesson. Lots of light layers lead to a dimensional effect was what I came away with. It’s a good test of my patience. This image was a bit more cute than the other. I prefer the one I completed during the class, but it was a good challenge to try it again.

Red Collie Paper Stretcher

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I started with a 9”x12” sheet of Stonehenge Aqua hot press watercolor paper, but ended with a 7.5”x10.5” image.

I love this paper stretcher made by Red Collie. I ordered mine on eBay, and it took about three weeks to arrive. It’s easy to use and the paper stays really flat. I wish I would have bought a few more sizes as you lose about 3/4” on each side where the paper is clamped.

Graphitint Sketches

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Color mixes from the 12 colors of the paint set. I don’t understand the first column. It’s almost as though I didn’t add the other colors, but I’m positive I did. The grazing sketch is done on paper, and the portrait is done on mineral paper, two very different effects.

I’m dedicating one of my Fabriano watercolor sketchbooks to Graphitint. Honestly? I like the look of Graphitint a little more on a smooth surface like mineral paper, but a nice, hardcover sketchbook is a pleasure to work with no matter the paper.

On the left is mineral paper, on the right Fabriano watercolor paper. The colors are stronger on the smooth surface, but the overall effect is softer on paper.

Having a dedicated sketchbook is always fun and educational. There’s nothing like completing numerous sketches to really understand a medium. I’ll never understand reviewers on YouTube who confidently praise or dismiss a medium after using it for ten minutes.

A few fast sketches.

Categories: Art Pencil Watercolor