Painting Strong Watercolours – How Do You Do That?
I’m often asked how I achieve such strong, vibrant watercolours. For many, the medium feels delicate or pale, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Painting intense watercolours is something I love to do and in this post I’ll explain my approach. I hope that it offers ideas and encouragement to fellow painters. If you have thoughts or questions please contact me via the form at the end -I’d be glad to continue the conversation.
Painting Strong Watercolours - some frequently asked questions.
Watercolour is a wonderful medium but it troubles many artists who seek boldness, intensity and vibrancy in their work. The answers here give direct answers and release us from the watercolour myths.
How do you get that powerful colour in watercolour?
-mine are all a bit pale.
Most watercolour painters use lots of water and small amounts of paint. I reverse that. Get plenty of pigment on the paper that's where the colour is. Water is to awaken the pigment not to dilute it.
What is your secret?
If there is a secret it is using less water, more pigment, and having confidence to igmore many of the traditional rules.
What brand of watercolour do you use, they must be particularly strong?
I have my favourite brand of course but I will use any quality brand to get a particular colour. I never use student quality and think students should not either.
What is the best advice you have for a watercolour painter?
Use less water. Less that is to paint with but use a lot to clean your brushes and palette; if they are not clean you are certain to spoil the colour the manufacturer produced so cleverly.
How come all of your colours are so bold?
In fact they are not, all of them that is. Look closely and you will see quite a lot of muted colour and that is what sets off the boldness. A painting with all pure colours can look brash.
These three paintings below demonstrate the use of strong watercolour.
The colours are bold - unmissable but the boldness is mixed with muted colour. Notice how clean the bold colours are, this maintains their intensity. The muted colour naturally loses both intensity and boldness with mixing.
Very little pure watercolour is used here but it is so noticeable - there are no words for this one
Mostly bold colours working together to create a vibrant watercolour
But it's white! Yes white can be very strong in a watercolour. Notice how the muted colours in the background define the painting - Hombre
Why does each colour look so pure and brilliant?
Pure and brilliant are not the right words. You are simply enjoying colour and what might look like one colour it is in fact subtle blends. Colour vision is a wonderful gift that most of us have. We don't see one colour we see many but we are unaware of the variations. Colours in paintings react with each other on your retina so it is the mix of colours that can make a painting "brilliant"
How do I mix the colours.
By mix you mean to put one colour alongside another and your selection is key to the mark you make. A colour comes alive (or not) depending upon the colour you put down in close proximity to it, particularly against it. Practice, practice and practice some more - you'll get it - it just needs working at. Look at other artists work, they've worked at it and it is there for the taking.
How do you decide which colours to put where?
Instinctively. Choose the colour your instincts tell you to. Ask yourself will it feel right. You will quickly learn what works for you and it is a wonderful journey to take. Your repertoire will increase and your individuality will then show in your paintings.
Have you any technical advice?
Only one - if you want your colours to sing keep the values (tones in UK English) close. Abrupt changes in value inhibit the eye from flowing through the painting.
Three more examples of the use of strong watercolour.
Notice how the colours are vibrating - that happens because of the placing and intensity of the colours - Intensity is the brightness of a colour. It is quickly destroyed by mixing so use that water to clean your brush!
How did I come to paint strong watercolours?
Frustration with the traditional watercolour and the "rules" nearly stopped me painting but I was lucky to meet Skip Lawrence - he showed me a better way and explained there are no watercolour police. His approach to art is now my approach.
Painting strong watercolours took an effort of will by me - I am English and most everyone expected me to paint transparently and make more of those traditional watercolours that seem to be demanded here. I don't conform. Artists should not conform, who wants sameness?
This last painting really demonstrates the richness of watercolour. Strong watercolours are blended together creating a vibrant painting. All is keyed by a small amount of pure colour.
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