Watercolour 003 - Basic Techniques

BASIC TECHNIQUES

Of course everyone can paint. but doing it right would be nice rather than making a flat piece that doesn't stand out. Everyone wants to create something with a wow factor right?
To start up, these are some basic techniques that I would need to learn and get familiarize with before starting to paint. The following example of techniques help in getting us to control the water, usage of other materials to assist in painting, and etc.

Getting Started 

Tools / Materials :- 

• Paper
• Watercolor Set
• Paint Brushes
• Masking Fluid (Nope I don't have this)
• Colourless Blender / Crayon (Think I can use candles?)
• Coarse Salt & Fine Salt
• Paper Towel (Kitchen Paper Towel preferred)
• Spray Bottle (For Watering Plants preferred)
• Waterproof Pen
• Rubbing Alcohol

Exercise #1 : Salt Technique

Method :

• Uses the salt properties to either push in / push out (huh???). It will form a unique texture.
• Sprinkle some salt onto the watercoloured wet surface.
• Wait for it to dry and observe what it does to the pigment.

Note :

• Brighter colours work better. 
• Recommended to use artist grade watercolor due to pigment to filler ratio is more. 
• Surface should be wet but not pooled with water. 
• Only rub off when watercolour surface is dried completely.

I noticed that the coarse salt will absorb the moist/pigment out an will leave a bigger white grain spots compared to the fine salt. 

Exercise #2 : Lifting Technique

Just as the name is self explanatory. It is about lifting the pigment out from the paper while it is still wet. There are multiple methods apart from the ones listed below.
Paper Towel

Method :

• Apply pigment onto paper.
• Crumple up a piece or two of Kitchen Paper Towel. Using dabbing motion quickly dab on areas to create cloud effects.

Note :

• Press harder to create a defined cloud.
• Use light touch for wispy clouds.

Brush

Method : 

• Uses same technique as blending. The brush has to be slightly moist and paper needs to be wet.
• When the brush is dragged along to create the effect, we won't be able to see an immediate results.
• Results visible when the area dries up.

Exercise #3 : Resist Technique

Masking Fluid

I can't really try out this technique unless I can get hold of the fluid. Supposedly as the name depicts, it should be to protect area that we don't want to get pigment onto. Then rub off the masking fluid by rubbing off using finger once dry.
In this example, I have googled for alternatives. There's the deodorant stick to melt for use. I planned to try it out using the old lip balm that I have. I think it was the beeswax that help to mask the layer. 

Colourless Blender

Method :

• We can use the colourless blender / crayon / candlestick.
• First, clearly draw the shapes / object we need using the blender / crayon / candlestick.
• Splash / paint / dab pigment / colour and wait for it to dry.
• Moisten a piece of paper towel slightly then draw over the area to make it more visible.

I observed that the lip balm I used for masking fluid (left) is not as good as the actual I've googled up. But somehow it actually worked. The yellow tint residue could be the bees wax content in the product.
I've also replaced the colourless blender using the white candlestick wax which able to perform the same as well. 

Exercise #4 : Layering Technique

Method :

• This is the opposite of blending.
• Apply first layer of lines horizontally then allow it to dry completely.
• Apply second layer of lines vertically 

Note :

• Purpose of this method is to paint a sheer curtain, plaid pattern, etc.

Exercise #5 : Dry Brush Technique

Method :

• Amount water vs pigment is lesser. Brush should only be slightly moist.
• Keep brush at an angle to get a better effect.
• Technique will form dry marks on paper which helps to show textures.

Note :

• Purpose of this method is to paint a crashing waves, rough blades from grass, textured walls, etc.

Exercise #6 : Wet Plus Dry Technique

Method :

• Uses blending technique which is wet and the dry brush technique to get the textures.
• Dip brush into pigment and paint horizontal lines to get dry strokes at the end.

Exercise #7 : Water Spray Technique

Method :

• Fill spray bottle with plain water.
• Paint a section with amount of pigment.
• Spray water onto the painted area.
• Wait for it to dry.

Exercise #8 : Waterproof Pen Technique

Method :

• Draw a random picture. Use a quick dry and waterproof pen to do this. Hopefully I have them.
• Paint over the picture either fill up the picture in detail or using wash method.

Exercise #9 : Rubbing Alcohol Technique

Method :

• Paint a section with any pigment colour.
• Drop a drop of alcohol.
• Try it when paint is still wet and also when it is almost dry.

I noticed that for my case, once the pigment dries, there's no traces of alcohol comparing to the trace left when pigment was still wet. Not sure what actually happened. I have used the 95% rubbing alcohol. 

Exercise #10 : Scratch Technique

Method :

• Scratch out pigment from the paper. 

Note :

• May tear up paper if not careful. Yes I did tear it slightly and I don't like it.

Wow~! So much exercises to start off with. Anxious to learn more of it. Up Next~! 😘

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