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I was reading a post in a watercolour group asking about when to stretch (ie tape) the paper for watercolours. So when do I tape? There are pretty much two factors,  what paper and how wet I plan on painting. As far was what paper, if it is a small composition, and esp. thicker paper I can often get away without tape. For most small pet portraits, butterflies etc I don’t use tape. However for anything bigger (and really would 8 x 10 is starting to push your luck ) I would tape so the paper dried flat.

As far as how wet you get the paper, that matters for the 8 x 10 and smaller. For example, this new piece I obviously taped (see photo below), because I knew I was going to be applying the black in a heavy handed manner at the end. However I did a lotus flower and swallow tail butterfly awhile back, that is the same size and paper, but not use tape, because all the paint went on in small steps that that time to dry.  In general though, if it crosses my mind, I think it is better to error on the side of using tape!

 

 

 

I was gifted the new set of Fine Tec pearlescent colors for Christmas. Lets just say they were hard for me to use! I’m sure there is some technique I was doing wrong here. I started just with pearlescent colors, but they are very light. Then I went back with my standard watercolors in another layer so you could actually see the butterfly. I felt like the two pigments were practically fighting each other on the paper. I can ended up doing a final layer of the pearlescent colors over the other watercolours. Obvious I need to find a youtube tutorial!

After staying up to welcome in the new year, elected to just do something small today. Postcard small. Did enjoy the colors of this bird of paradise flower ^_^

Now that the holidays are over I can post the watercolours ^_^

The hardest part of painting a surprise for someone is, no only figuring out that they would like, but honestly what they have room for. The horse and pups here are the respective recipient pets. The little wolf was a request, and based off the timber wolf at the desert museum.

luckily everyone I gave paintings to was too polite to critique!

 

This little heron was hanging out by the pond  at the  Hilton hotel in Honolulu. He was holding so still that while tons of tourist were taking koi photos, it seemed like no one saw him among the bromeliads . I had a trouble here with the lighting (it was a pretty washed out photo).

 

Found some time for some quick small paintings in Colorado when visiting family. The denver botanical gardens were still beautiful in their winter dormancy (above) and their cat Bella was gracious host. Mainly she was asking for treats.

As you may know I normally work inside from my own photos when painting. However last week I got to practice some plein air watercolours.  I was lucky enough to go on a trip to Honolulu, and between family activities I was able to squeeze in some postcard painting.

Turns out I am really out of practice when it comes to drawing from life! I definitely struggled with shadows, and layering of color.  It was hard to get them down quickly enough  before the light changed. Working from photos has really spoiled me >.<

For the post cards, I used a little water colour set paper postcard set from strathmore.  They are only a few dollars on Amazon.  I just packed a small set of paints in my carry on.

While none of these turned out perfect, it still fun to get to give them away as souvenirs of the trip. Of course I took home my own share of local art ( the Gyotaku on the piano are by Brandon Tengan) and a few of my own ^_^

 

With bigger watercolours I always use painter tap to keep it from wrinkling. Smaller ones I can often get away without. I do wonder if I end up subconsciously adding in bits of blue to the painting because of the blue border ^_^  The best part is always removing the tape at the end!

Maybe it is the rain, but today I decided to be little adventurous and use more black than normally I ever would in a watercolour. I like some of the strokes but not all.  There is definitely no going back when using the color.  Still a nice change of pace from butterfly/ flower studies.