Finishing Touches

 Finishing touches to the pour

Here is what the painting looked like after I removed all the masking fluid and the contact paper.

I was really pleased with the way the contact paper responded on this hot press paper. Very little of the color was accidentally lifted, as it often is with masking fluid, and the paint bled just a little under the edges to give it a realistic, not too hard edged, feel.

So here are some things you can do to improve your pour. (Sometimes you don't need to do a thing)

#1: For edges that seem too light or hard, you can just brush lightly over the area with water, and let the loosened paint flow over those edges. (Like in some of the hexagons in the background.)

#2: Soften edges with a lifting brush to push them more in the background. Or use the lifting brush to lighten an area, such as the leaf below. When that was dry, I also darkened the area behind the leaf to make it stand out better.

#3: Paint over an area to make the paint brighter, suh as the yellow and pink added to this leaf.

#4: Paint some shadows into the veins of the leaves to make it more realistic. Also in the picture above.

#5: Paint some small soft edges into glaring whites, so they don't look so flat. (see the white flowers)

Before and after:

Hot Press Paper

Below is a description of hot press paper. I wanted to use it on this project because the colors will stain the paper a bit more, and there is less paint seaping through tape and contact paper. The edges are very crisp., and the colors a bit more vibrant. Floral painters often use it, and it's amazing for pen and wash...the surface is much easier on pens.

I usually use cold press for every day because it is such a workhorse, and it takes any kind of technique I want to try. 

Hot press watercolor paper is a smooth, hot-rolled surface with no tooth, allowing for precise, detailed work, vibrant colors, and easy lifting. Ideal for illustration, calligraphy, and mixed media (ink/pencil), it dries slower and keeps pigments on the surface, requiring careful blending. It is best used for high-detail, graphic, or scanned, digital-ready artwork. 

Key Characteristics & Best Uses:

• Surface: Extremely smooth (similar to Bristol paper or hot-pressed cotton).
• Painting Behavior: Water and pigments sit on top, resulting in brighter, more intense colors.
• Best For: Detailed illustrations, pen and ink, technical, and high-detail botanical art.
• Techniques: Excellent for lifting color, creating hard edges, and dry brush techniques.
• Considerations: Difficult for beginners to achieve smooth, large washes without streaks. 

Using a color wheel

Here is a video on using a color wheel that is really helpful. It outlines what it is, how to use it to find a color scheme, how to use it to mix color.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfKx7MjSEK0