Watercolour
Time to Reflect
, watercolour, 1734⁄ x1334⁄ in. (45x35cm). My avocet needed somewhere to wade so I used Clingfilm to create a few ripples.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Paint textures with salt and Clingfilm
Learn classic watercolour techniques
Practise brush control
Last month we considered what painting loose really means – and what it doesn’t. Now it is time to stop reading and to pick up your brushes. By practising some of the following exercises, not only will you create lovely paintings, you will learn invaluable lessons. Become your own tutor and analyse everything you do. If you are happy with the outcome, ask yourself why and how could you make it even better. If something went wrong, identify at what stage, what you can do to avoid doing it again and focus on the positive – what went right and why? Your learning will accelerate.
If you hold your brush like a pen, it will be very controlled. If you hold it at the end, you will need to use your whole arm to move it and it will give less control with more expression. If you hold it at the end and stand up, you will achieve even more expression and use your whole body. Try to paint with a larger brush for as long as possible, on a piece of paper larger than your intended finished size.