Painting Strong Watercolours – How Do You Do That?
I’m often asked how I achieve such strong, vibrant colours in watercolour. For many, the medium feels delicate or pale, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Painting bold watercolours is something I love to do and in this post I’ll explain my approach. I hope is that it offers ideas and encouragement to fellow painters. If you have thoughts or questions, please add them in the comments below—I’d be glad to continue the conversation.
Q. How do you get that powerful colour in watercolour? -mine are all a bit pale.
A. 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.
Q.What is your secret?
A. I don't have a secret.
Q. What brand of watercolour do you use, they must be particularly strong?
A. I have my favourite brand of course but I will use any quality brand to get a particular colour I like. I never use student quality and think students should not either.
The three paintings below demonstrate the use of strong watercolour, the colours are bold - unmissable.
Q. What is the best advice you have for a watercolour painter?
A. 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.
Q. How come all of your colours are so bold?
A. 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.
Q. So why does each colour look so pure and brilliant?
A.Pure and brilliant are not the right words. You are simply enjoying colour and what might look like one colour it is infsct 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"
Q. Okay, so how do I mix the colours.
A. By mix you mean to put one colour alongside anotherand 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, prctice 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.
Q. So how do you decide which colours to put where?
A. 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 it will truly be yours. Your individuality will then show in your paintings.
This last painting really demonstrates the richness of watercolour. Strong watercolours are blended together and keyed by a small amount of pure colour.
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.
Below are some more examples of paintings in strong watercolour...
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?
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Alan Brain Art
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