What do you think of the seven secrets presented so far?

Has anything surprised you?

Isn’t it great to know that you were never missing an exotic watercolor tool, and that instead all you needed was a little more information about our good friend Water?

Secret #8 – How wet is your paper? (This is C.A.G.E. in action.)

Up to this point (except for last week’s exercise), you probably have been laying brushfuls of water / pigment mix on bone dry paper. Doing that gives you a lot of control, but if that is all you ever do, your work will remain at a beginner stage. To graduate to the next level, let’s explore what happens when various amounts of brush wetness meet different amounts of paper wetness. A million adventures await you! You are learning to “paint with water,” as well as with your brush. It’s a dance, and your invisible partner is the water itself.

Warning: You will not be able to learn this intellectually by reading about it, fretting over it, and studying it.  You must PLAY with it!

It’s time to start using lots of that precious paper in that precious sketchbook. After all, it is only the first of many sketchbooks, right?

You know about C.A.G.E. (see last week’s lesson); now let’s see how it manifests on paper.

The 5 stages of paper wetness

Shiny Bump: The pigments have lots of room to drift around in the water, and tipping your sketchbook will produce exciting, unpredictable results!

Shiny flat: There is still a thin water layer on the paper, so use it to assist you before Evaporation Happens.

Semi-dull: Small, intentional brush marks will work, but you will soon enter the Frustration Zone.

Dull/damp/cold: Ahh, yes, the Frustration Zone. This is where we think we are still the boss, but alas, no. The paper looks dry on the surface, but the core of the paper is cool and damp and will pull any new surface paint mix to places unknown, creating “blooms,” “cauliflowers.” Not that that’s a bad thing, just know that it’s a textural element you don’t get to vote on. Fixing it while it’s damp makes it worse. Let it be. Take a break, go get a coffee, wait until the paper is truly dry before you do anything else in that area.

Bone dry: Ta-daaaah!  We have come full circle, back to the state of non-dampness that gives us full control, but no yummy, painterly effects. That’s okay. You are now free to do a bit of small, controlled lifting, add drybrush details, sit back, and admire your masterpiece as well as your bravery. Get ready for your watercolor skill to skyrocket.

That’s it! Here’s the summary of the last 8 weeks:

The 8 Secrets of Vibrant Watercolor

1- “Sketchbook Watercolor” is much easier than “Hang-It-On-The-Wall Watercolor.”

2- How wet is your palette? (paint accessibility)

3- How wet is your brush? (the four stages)

4- How dark is your mix? (values, wet and dry)

5- How large is your mix? (Evaporation Happens!)

6- “Don’t push me!”  Guiding, not pushing, the bead.

7- C.A.G.E. explains everything.

8- How wet is your paper? (C.A.G.E. in action)

~~~~~

*** This Secret #8 is from page 84 of the newly expanded Second Edition of my bestseller, “Look at That!”  If you would like to purchase a copy of “Look at That! – SECOND EDITION” be sure to look for the version with the green stripe down the left side of the cover, and the words “SECOND EDITION” in the blue cloud at the top of the cover. The best shortcuts to find this new book are below: simply click on whatever version you prefer.

“Look at That! – SECOND EDITION”

Hardcover — Paperback — eBook

Note: This latest book is available on Amazon and at my local bookstore, Gibson’s, here in Concord NH. Please contact me here if you do not use Amazon and would still like to purchase a paperback or hard cover copy of Look at That! – Second Edition.

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