Black and White, Color, Here to There in Watercolor Values
Saturday, September 4, 2010 at 5:31AM 
For all interested parties, I am giving a hands-on demo at Daniel Smith (4150 First Avenue S., Seattle, Wa, 98124) on September 18 at 11 am to 12 noon, 1pm to 2 pm. The theme is about working with value in watercolor, something I've noticed is a problem for a lot of students, and, frankly, a challenge for me as well.
The Daniel Smith Lunar Black watercolor pigment is a great vehicle for doing value studies, and I have found it to be effective even as a method of establishing values and then glazing over the black and white rendering with color glazes. Sort of like the Venetian method of oil painting in the 1500's. The trout is an example of this.
I know all of us have been cautioned about using black in paintings, especially watercolor because carbon black or ivory black is so opaque and tends to make a "black hole" in your painting. However, this Lunar Black is a different kettle of fish. It GRANULATES and sparkles on the paper, and is terrific even for mixing with a stain or glaze. I did this with the leaf in the following example. The middle image is a little lighter in value than the actual leaf, but that was a choice on my part. I both glazed with some Lunar Black and sap green and use it straight in wet areas to create the spots.
And here are some black and white studies and the color watercolors coming out of the studies.
I have shown also how you can work with a photograph you have altered to black and white on your computer. I usually flail away with paint in plein aire situations, but for teaching and careful rendering (especially when you live in rainy Seattle), it's often more practical to work with photos. I think one needs to work directly in the landscape or with object/figures to get that energy transfer and to take chances, but from time to time, it is necessary to work inside with a photograph.
So, you will be able to experiment....and since there will be materials, the charge for the workshop is $10 for supplies. You'll get three pieces of paper, some Lunar black and some other colors to play with, and Dan Smith and I will have some brushes you can borrow. The class is limited to 15 or 20 (I forgot how many), so if it appeals to people, it may fill up soon.
Oh say can you see.....the Lunar Black blending with the greens?
Reader Comments (1)
Happy New Year my dear friend! Grooving on your waterscapes...so magical like always. I just reviewed some of your water color lessons too and find them very helpful as I take up portraiture in mixed media....just for fun!
love,
Lily