Caffè Florian, Venice
Years ago, when I'd only been painting for a little while, I read a book called "Pouring Light" by Jean Gastorf, a member of the American Watercolor Society. I was amazed at the wonderful effects she had created by pouring the watercolour on to wet paper.
I learnt "Pouring" is a watercolour technique. It requires meticulous planning! You must have identified all the different tones within the picture before starting.
I tried to do it and failed, mainly because of my lack of experience at that time but also my lack of knowledge in the materials used in watercolour. This painting is my second attempt.
For those who are interested, I made some step-by-step notes and took photographs whilst I worked. I also made a short, one minute video showing the pouring process.
I learnt "Pouring" is a watercolour technique. It requires meticulous planning! You must have identified all the different tones within the picture before starting.
I tried to do it and failed, mainly because of my lack of experience at that time but also my lack of knowledge in the materials used in watercolour. This painting is my second attempt.
For those who are interested, I made some step-by-step notes and took photographs whilst I worked. I also made a short, one minute video showing the pouring process.
First, the drawing is made.
It is then transferred onto a piece of tracing paper. You must identify your lightest tones at this stage as they need to be masked before the first pour.
I used a yellow pen to indicate the areas I needed mask first on my piece of tracing paper.
I used a yellow pen to indicate the areas I needed mask first on my piece of tracing paper.
The next step is to transfer those parts of the drawing on to a piece of pre-stretched watercolour paper.
This is where I went wrong the first time I tried it. I was using paper unsuitable for masking fluid. If you'd like to know more about the different types of paper please take a look at my tutorial on watercolour paper.
This is where I went wrong the first time I tried it. I was using paper unsuitable for masking fluid. If you'd like to know more about the different types of paper please take a look at my tutorial on watercolour paper.
Having masked the lightest tones in the picture wet the paper and pour on the colours in the next lightest tone.
This was another area in which I failed the first time I tried it. The masking fluid needs to be new. You may know, masking fluid dries up, even in the bottle. I wrote some tips about using masking fluid in my tutorial Reserving the white of the paper. This is the first time I had tried using Drawing Gum, made by Pebeo. I was impressed. Its consistency is thinner than the Winsor and Newton Masking Fluid, making it easier to draw with. It peeled off with no trouble at all and, most importantly, did not tear the paper! It is a new pot though so perhaps I should reserve judgement until I've come to the end of it.
Once that layer is dry draw and mask the next lightest tone, wet the paper and pour the second tone of colour.
These steps are repeated until all the areas of tone are complete.
This was another area in which I failed the first time I tried it. The masking fluid needs to be new. You may know, masking fluid dries up, even in the bottle. I wrote some tips about using masking fluid in my tutorial Reserving the white of the paper. This is the first time I had tried using Drawing Gum, made by Pebeo. I was impressed. Its consistency is thinner than the Winsor and Newton Masking Fluid, making it easier to draw with. It peeled off with no trouble at all and, most importantly, did not tear the paper! It is a new pot though so perhaps I should reserve judgement until I've come to the end of it.
Once that layer is dry draw and mask the next lightest tone, wet the paper and pour the second tone of colour.
These steps are repeated until all the areas of tone are complete.
My video shows the first two pours only - speeded up 16x!
Of all the watercolour techniques I've tried, this is the most labour intensive! I began counting the hours I worked on this, but gave up counting after 32 hours when I was still nowhere near finished (and that does not include drying time!).
Having said that, as with Glazing the effects created can only be achieved in this way.
...If I were to be really positive about it, it is in effect negative painting made easy. :)
Have you tried it? If so, how did you find it?
Eleanor
Having said that, as with Glazing the effects created can only be achieved in this way.
...If I were to be really positive about it, it is in effect negative painting made easy. :)
Have you tried it? If so, how did you find it?
Eleanor
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