Watercolour Painting Demonstration

lor: #ffffff;" />just the corner of the hake, begin painting the profile
Please note painting can be viewed via link below inof the trees that live along the top of the hill all the
author’s biography.way down to near the shore.
I love painting the Scottish lochs and this is one ofWith a clean brush add Raw Sienna below the trees
my favourites. I’m using 15” xto create the impression of grassy areas. Allow your
11” 130lb watercolour paper and unlessbrush to just touch the green of the trees to allow
otherwise stated I’m using my large Ronsome of the paint to spread into the Raw Sienna.
Ranson hake brush. There are the usual 7 coloursThe bank of the hill is put in with darker colour. Use
– Raw Sienna, Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Umber,various mixes of Burnt Umber, Paynes Gray and
Lemon Yellow, Alizarin Crimson, Paynes Gray andUltramarine Blue to paint the shoreline. Remember the
Light Red though I’ll be trying to use as fewdark shoreline will allow the white yacht sails that
as possible to keep the colours harmonious.we’ll put in later to stand out.
Start by wetting the entire paper with clean waterThe right hand hill is put in using the same colours but
and then adding a little Raw Sienna randomly acrosswithout the trees. Remember to make the shoreline
the paper both in the sky and foreground. Repeatingnice and dark to contrast with the lighter toned
your sky colours in the foreground helps keep thewater.
colours in your painting balanced throughout and moreMake sure the paper is completely dry before you
pleasing on the eye.continue. Rewet the water area of the picture and
Add some Ultramarine Blue to your sky to create thequickly add the reflections of the hills into the water
impression of breaks in the clouds. Again, repeat thebefore the paper dries. Again, wait until the paper is
colour into your water to give the illusion of skydry before continuing.
reflecting off the surface.With various mixes of Burnt Umber, Ultramarine Blue
To complete the sky we need to add some darkand Paynes Gray use broad sweeps of the hake
clouds. Mix Paynes Gray with a little Alizarin Crimsonbrush to paint in your foreground. You could even
and, starting at the top of the paper, add the cloudsadd a touch of Light Red to warm it up.
remembering to make them smaller as you approachWhen the foreground is dry, mix Burnt Umber and
the horizon giving the feeling of distance. Once againUltramarine Blue to an almost black mix. If necessary
you can add a little of the cloud mix to the waterdip just the tip of your hake in your water jar to
but keep it subtle.bring the hairs to a chisel edge. With your straight
Next we need to add the distant hills on the horizon.edge add the dark mud banks where the land meets
To help push them far back into the painting we usethe water.
the same colours as the sky. Mix a weak wash ofNext take a couple of credit cards or similar and
Raw Sienna, Ultramarine Blue and Paynes Gray andcross the two over to create a triangular template
block in the hills. Don’t worry about details, atwhere you will create a yacht sail. Using a slightly
this distance everything will appear the same tone.damp ¾” flat brush remove the paint
The two closer hills are put in with richer colour andand then dab with a dry tissue to complete your
more detail. Starting with the left hill, we’llyacht. Repeat as necessary but remember not to
first put in the trees along the top. Mix Lemon Yellowoverdo it.
and Paynes Gray to get a rich, dark green and using