Watercolor Winter Landscape Demo-Fast and Loose

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Watercolor Winter Landscape Demo-Fast and Loose

I’ve had lots of requests lately for some watercolor painting demonstrations, so here is the first. This one is really fast and really loose so get your painting gear together and paint with me. Pause the video as many times as you need to so you can follow along.

Materials Used:
QoR Watercolor: Burnt Sienna, Indigo
Paper: Fabriano Artistico, 300lb. Rough Pressed, 11”x15”
Backing Board: Plastic core board, approx. 1/4” thick
Brushes: Cheap Joe’s Golden Fleece, Nylon 2”; Jack Richeson Kolinsky Sable, 1”.

This is a complementary color painting using blue (Indigo) and orange (Burnt Sienna). The intent is to hint at a snowy landscape, yet not over articulate, or tell the whole story. I want to leave it open to viewer interpretation.

I am using the burnt sienna as my accent color for warmth at my center of interest. I also plan to use my darkest value at my center of interest to help make it pop.

I wet the paper front and back so that it is saturated. The paper will adhere to the board without any clips or tape required. I leave all the surface water on the paper and immediately lay in a wet wash of Burnt Sienna in and around where my center of interest will be, and a bit in the foreground. Next I cover the foreground with Indigo to softly shape the white shape in the middle ground. I keep it wet and loose. Next, I outline a few tree shapes in the background, leaving the Burnt Sienna show through, where I want my center of interest area to be. The rest of the Burnt Sienna gets covered by the Indigo. Finally, I use a smaller brush with mostly paint, and very little water, to create the dark value “tree” shape that will be the main portion of my center of interest area. I then spray just a bit of water on the Indigo in the foreground to make a few water spots, and I’m done.

The entire painting process, including wetting the paper took only 8:00 minutes. That’s what I love so much about watercolor - the immediacy of it. I don’t have to put out color, or get paint all over me, or have a big cleanup job. Simple, straight forward and easy. I hope you had fun painting along with me!

If you'd like to learn about abstract painting, then please join me for a painting workshop: (You can view a list of 2019 workshops HERE)

  • January 10-12, 2019 Arts Alliance of Lee County, Fort Myers, FL. For information and registration Click Here.

  • January 25-27, 2019 Daytona Art League, Daytona Beach, FL. SOLD OUT-Waiting List

  • February 6-8, 2019 David M. Kessler Fine Art Studio, Winston-Salem, NC. For information and registration Click Here. Only 1 seat left!

  • February 15, 2019 David M. Kessler Fine Art Studio, Winston-Salem, NC. This 1-day workshop is on Acrylic Monoprinting - all supplies included - just bring yourself! For information and registration Click Here.

  • March 5-8 Cultural Arts Alliance, Santa Rosa Beach, FL. For information and registration contact Bonnie Loman. Email: pghsteeler1@icloud.com.

  • March 15-17 Helen Day Center, Stowe, VT. For information and registration contact Danielle Naylor. Email: education@helenday.com.

  • March 27-29, 2019 Amarillo Art Institute, Amarillo, TX. For information and registration contact Rachel Flores, Email: director@amarilloartinstitute.org.

  • April 12-14, 2019 Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, Florence, AL. For information and registration contact Christi Britton. Email: cbritton@florenceal.org.

As always, thanks so much for your support!

David

P.S. If you you'd like to learn more about Abstract Painting in the comfort of your home or studio, I have a great course called Abstract Painting Academy available for you:

Abstract Painting Academy is the next best thing to a live workshop event. You can find out more by Clicking Here.



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