Masters’ Techniques in Water colour
A City Literary Institute online course – hoping to improve my clumsy watercolour.
This is a four week course taking a different artist each week and trying to emulate their way of working.
First Artist, A Danish abstract artist called Emil Nolde, who used very vivid colours to paint landscapes using a wet on wet technique.
I have never had any luck atall using wet on wet. All I seem to get is puddles of colour with thise ‘cauliflower’ edges. i didn’t manage his vivid colours but managed two loose studies, of the sea at sunset and a mountain scene. The lake in the foreground is suffering from my usual watercolour heavyhandedness, but look, no cauliflowers. Result.
The second artist was an English Victorian painter, Francis Towne, who used a combination of ink drawing and very delicate washes. the result is almost like an etching. Again, a new experience for me to try. I wish I hadn’t put the colour so heavily on the nearer mountains. Should have built them up more gently.
The third session we studied Duffy, whose technique was to draw with the paintbrush adding lines and shapes, but again only with the brush. We were asked to set up our own still life, but I decided to make my still life me, and set up a mirror for a self portrait. The loose watercolour is something I will use more of, particularly as it makes me look twenty years younger!
The fouth Week was John Piper. A very difficult project. I didn’t get anywhere near his very original style, but quite enjoyed the project. Using a combination of wet on wet waterdolour underdrawing and pastel on top. Should have allowed the watercolour to dry more.
I really enjoyed the course, and would recommend it to anyone wanting to expand their work. The pictures are far from perfect, and expecting to be able to replicate the style of a renowned artist in a two hour class is a very tall order! Worthwhile trying however!