AMANDA BRETT WATERCOLOUR ARTIST
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PaintBox Tips​

PaintBox Tip #67, 7 things I'm thinking while I'm painting

25/3/2022

6 Comments

 
edited from original post 011214 WP
 
The superbly cool thing about watercolour is, once you've done all your research and preparatory drawings, design etc and you're hitting paper with water ... it's all on ... right now!!

The difficult thing about watercolour is that once you're hitting the paper with water, it's all on ... very scary ... right now!!
​
ooohhh ... what to do?

here are 7 things i'm thinking while i'm painting ...
  1. this part is wet but it's raw sienna and it looks stunningly luminescent and glowingly beautiful with burnt sienna dropped next to it ... let them mingle. i'm using harmonious colours.
  2. this part should be a dark shadow so i'll drop some dark cool violet or a neutral violet mixed from my palette. i'm thinking about my value range.
  3. i've got too many hard edges, while it's still damp i'll spray some water to get some of them to run and blend. I'm thinking about Edge variety.
  4. In my focal area, i'm about to place my brush next to a vibrant green so i'll need some neutral lightish red next to it ... maybe alizarin with some of the vibrant green mixed into it or burnt sienna with a tiny amount of cobalt blue in it - depends on what palette i'm using. Here I'm thinking about complementary colours.
  5. i've painted enough brush strokes with my 1 inch flat brush time to change to my number 16 round. I'm thinking about shape variety.
  6. this part should be in the background but is has a light yellow pulling it forward, i'll neutralise it and make it recede into the background with a glaze of a dark coolish purple - perspective.
  7. i've got a really super shape here, i'll repeat it 2 more times, different sizes, different directions and not exactly the same shape - repetition.
and there's much more as you can imagine.

Watercolour painting demands your complete attention, keep focussed while you are painting and stay in the zone. 
have fun!!
​
cheers
Amanda

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6 Comments
Jana
25/3/2022 09:39:32

What a grand list! Love that you share your thought process. I remember my mind being blown in your class when you shared many of these tips. If only reading them and watching you do them could translate into 1) me remembering them all and 2) me being successful with them. Alas...it takes SO MUCH PRACTICE!!

Reply
Amanda Brett
26/3/2022 13:25:53

Thanks so much Jana!! I hear you!! I've just started a "creative development" process for myself - EVERYDAY!! it includes lists of things I like plus elements I want to include. Practice is the word alright. I'm going to see my Dentist at his Dental Practice on Monday, hope he's practiced enough!! lol!!

thanks for reading and commenting xx

Reply
CS
25/3/2022 12:35:53

Love these tips!
More! More!!

Reply
Amanda Brett
26/3/2022 13:26:15

will do!!
thanks for reading!!

Reply
Steve Norris
26/3/2022 06:39:14

Bit 'dry' the tips today. All text and so not easy to envision.

:)

Reply
Amanda Brett
26/3/2022 13:26:55

lol!!
excellent - my point exactly - go and do it!!
thanks for reading!!

Reply



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    There is no ONE WAY to paint a watercolour - Amanda Brett

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  • Home
    • News
    • About Me
    • More About Me & Watercolour
    • What I See
  • Gallery Shop
    • SHOP New Original Paintings
    • Shop Limited Edition Prints
  • Tuition
    • PaintBox Tips featured posts >
      • PaintBox Tips
    • Video Lessons
    • Weekly Watercolour Classes >
      • Feedback & Photos
    • student's page
    • Lessons featured posts >
      • Lessons
    • Workshops for your Group
    • Watercolour Magic on Youtube
    • FAQs >
      • My faves and where to buy
      • Resources
  • Contact
  • Join My Insider's List
  • Workshop Lucca Italy June 2022
    • Plein Air Supplies