Wednesday, September 19, 2018

First Aid for Water Color


Some helpful tips to ‘save’ a painting.

The first 9 are taken from Birgit O’Connor’s article, “Watercolor SOS”, in Watercolor Artist, August 2018, page 20-24. This is just a summary, but see the article for more details.

1.       PROBLEM: Studio Lighting Issues. Birgit O’Connor suggests full-spectrum natural lighting is best, so you want to come as close to that as possible. Use compact florescent bulbs or LED bulbs. Basically, you need a clean WHITE light cclosest to daylight without being too blue, 5000K should be fine.
2.       PROBLEM: Messy, undefined edges. This is a mistake made by painting an area too soon, efore the adjacent areas has had time to dry completely. SOLUTION: walk away and let the painting dry completely. If you need to clean up a messy edge, dry it completely, and use a wet on dry technique to clean it up.
3.       PROBLEM: Trouble determining values. There is a saying: value does all the work, but color gets all the credit. The quickest way is to make a black and white photocopy. (I often take a photo on my cell phone and turn it into black and white.)Or do a small thumbnail sketch in pencil or single paint color, such as gray. The other way is to hold a sheet of RED PLASTIC OR ACETATE over a subject. The red color shows the ranges of values.
4.       PROBLEM: Unintentional blooms. These occur when parts of the painting dry more quickly than others.SOLUTION: allow the painting to dry completely. Then try to lift or soften edges with a melamine foam eraser. Or, while still damp, add more water and allow the puddle to move around the surface to spread the water more evenly.
5.       PROBLEM: hard rings of color. These occur when you apply and reapply too much water, lifting pigment and pushing to edges.             SOLUTION: Dry completely, then reapply color in layers.
6.       PROBLEM: Muddy colors. SOLUTIONS: * DON’T MIX TOO MANY COLORS AT A TIME. * Don’t overmix colors on palette. * Work with the most transparent colors.* Avoid mixing cadmiums, opaques, and earth colors. * Don’t overuse mixed complements. * Be aware that every color has a warm or cool bias. * Allow each layer of color to dry completely before applying the next.
7.       PROBLEM: COLOR MATCHING ISSUES: Each brand of paint may have different names for each color. But also, they may use a different formula for the same name. SOLUTION: learn to read a tube of color.
a.       Pigment code: Tells the pigment(s) name(s) used
b.       Transparency code: Transparent, semi-, or opaque
c.       Lightfastness rating: you want a I or II. It refers to the permanence or chemical stability of a color, especially whether it fades over time with light.
d.       Series number: This indicates PRICE. Series 1 is lowest priced.
8.       PROBLEM: STRAY BRUSH HAIR IN WET PAINT. SOLUTION: Don’t leave it and don’t try to remove it with a fingernail, which can dent your paper. Use a small stiff synthetic brush, like a #3 round, to gently lift it out.
9.       PROBLEM: THE ENTIRE PAINTING IS A MESS.  Birgit O’connor suggests removing all color by placing it under running water using a faucet or hose or submerging it in a tub. While the surface is still wet, use a large soft brush, or Mr. Clan Magic Eraser, to gently wipe surface. If you press too hard you can damage paper fibers.
AND THAT BRINGS US TO THE CHALLENGE: CAN THIS PAINTING BE SAVED?

Here are more ideas you can use when you run into problem #9. You are ready to throw this thing in the trash. But before you do, ask if there is something redeeming about the painting, other than the fact you have poured hours of work into it.

1.       CROP.
2.       SOAK OLD PAINT OFF
3.       WHITE OUT
4.       USE BLACK OR VERY DARK PAINTS TO TURN IT INTO ABSTRACT
5.       USE FLUID ACRYLIC OR GOUACHE TO RECLAIM YOUR WHITES
6.       USE COLLAGE
7.       COVER PARTS WITH RICE PAPERS
8.       USE YOUR COLORED PENCILS
9.       TRY GOING OVER PARTS WITH PASTELS
10.   COVER WITH MAT MEDIUM OR GESSO
11.   RUB WITH A SMOOTH STONE (for paper that has become rough from overuse)
12.   USE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRY SOMETHING NEW
a.       Stenciling
b.       Stamping
c.       Gels and mediums
13.   TEXTURIZE
14.   CUT IT UP INTO BOOKMARKS

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