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Wet in wet is the queen of watercolor techniques - Here is an example a flower arrangement.

Wet in wet is the queen of watercolor painting. The reason is that when we paint wet paint into thoroughly wet watercolor paper, the particles of pigment settle out into the little hills and valleys of the paper. This "sedimentation" is what makes watercolor washes so gorgeous. The paint diffuses into the surrounding areas depending on how wet each area is. This gives us the ability to paint soft, slightly out of focus pictures. The technique of wet in wet produces lovely, tranquil works; but they remain visually exciting both from a distance as well as very close up.

The trick to getting this effect is in the paint selection. We select paints for their sedimentary properties. By this we mean the properties of the pigment particles. Some are very light. The light ones do not settle easily and so "migrate" from where they are put and give us the soft, diffuse look. The heavy ones tend to clump, or settle, or both. This "aggregation" of the heavy particles sink into the papers valleys. Every color acts a little differently so the effect is continually changing thereabout the painting. You cannot ask for a lovelier technique.

Wet in wet of this type is not for the beginner, even though many people come to watercolor for just this reason. You need time to get used to your paints and how they feel. You might want to start with my palette, (paint selection), its well thought out.

You might also want to see three of my beginner materials lessons, paint, paper, stretching paper, to better understand what I am doing in this lesson and why.

The colors in this demonstration are the yellow - purple complementary color scheme, with yellow predominating. There are green notes added in a few places. The composition is entirely curvilinear. The negative space is subordinated (smaller) to the positive (larger).

 


MATERIALS LIST

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A Color For Information

Sedimentary Warm        

Burnt Sienna

A sedimentary color; sediments quickly offering a mottled or shimmery look to the final (wash)

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Viridian

A sedimentary color; sediments quickly offering a mottled or shimmery look to the final (wash)

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Pthalocyanine Blue

A "warm" (greenish) blue.

A non sedimentary color settles out smoothly yielding a uniform finish (wash)

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Pyrrol Red

A "warm" (orangish) red.

A non sedimentary color settles out smoothly yielding a uniform finish (wash)

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Arylide Yellow FGL

A "warm" (orangish) yellow.

A non sedimentary color settles out smoothly yielding a uniform finish (wash)

There is not an industry standard name for this color. I am offering DaVincis Brand name.

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Yellow Ocher

A sedimentary color.

sediments quickly offering a mottled or shimmery look to the final (wash)

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Cerulean Blue

A sedimentary color.

Sediments quickly offering a mottled or shimmery look to the final (wash)

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Ultramarine Blue

A cool (purplish) blue.

A non sedimentary color settles out smoothly, theoretically yielding a uniform final (wash).

Actually Ultramarine Blue "flocculates" (gathers in clumps) so we only get a fairly smooth (wash)

Sadly, it's the only purplish blue thats light-fast and available to artists.

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Alizarin Crimson
( Quinacridone )

A cool (purplish) red.

A non sedimentary color settles out smoothly yielding a uniform finish (wash)

n fact, Alizarine Crimson (a very early man made pigment) lost favor when it was found non light-fast.

Today we replace it it with a better version of the same color called Quinacdridone Red.

Nevertheless, manufacturers still call it Alizerine Crimson.

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Arylide Yellow Deep

A cool (greenish) yellow

A non sedimentary color settles out smoothly yielding a uniform finish (wash)

There is not an industry standard name for this color. I am offering the DaVincis Brand name.

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Cool        
Brushes

Brushes

I use mostly "Kolinsky" (Highest quality) red sable brushes. I also have some nylon brushes that are pretty amazing. They are on the high priced side of nylon brush prices.

Brushes do the actual painting. If the brush cannot do it ; neither can you. If you are a beginner, you should watch my videos All About Brushes.
and
Watercolor Brushes – What to look for when buying them.

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Papers

watercolor Paper

I use 140 pound cold pressed paper.

I buy "full sheets". Everyone will know that means 22" x 30". They are actually a little oversized which is true for all "mold made" papers.

Heavier thicknesses than 140 pound are nice but more expensive. "Rough" as opposed to cold pressed is also nice.

"Arches" brand; actual spelled D'Arches by the manufacturer.

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Palettes

Palettes

PALETTE Has Two Meanings

1) The selection of paints available to the artist.

2) The surface upon which the paints are stored and mixed.

In this case, the paint holder is a cut down ice cube tray. It stores, along with a wet sponge, in a zip lock bag. That keeps the paint fresh.

For a mixing surface I use a flat sheet of white plastic.

Another good one is clear plastic with white paper under it. A matte surface is preferable to a shiny one.

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Wet in wet painting
A Wet In Wet Watercolor Painting Lesson.
Captain Watercolor Demonstrates How To Create Depth In A Painting.
How To Create Depth In A Painting.
Captain Watercolor demonstrates how to paint a basket. A lesson in lifting watercolor paint
Painting A Basket - A Lesson Lifting Watercolor Paint - Part 1.
Captain Watercolor demonstrates how to paint objects and their shadows
Filling The Basket - A Lesson In Painting Objects Part 2.
Captain Watercolor demonstrates a monoprint. Adding texture using plastic wrap.
Watercolor Lesson - Monoprinting - Texturing With Plastic Wrap.
Landscape shadows
Landscape Shadows. A Demonstration
How to mix all the colors from just six.
Color For Beginners - How to mix all the colors.
Example of complementary colors - How to plan the colors of a painting or anything else.
Color schemes - How to plan the colors of a painting.
Picture show contrast between warm and cool images.
How to paint emotions using warm and co
Captain Watercolor discusses abstract art.
Abstract Art - A discussion.

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