In 2015, I want to paint watercolors on a bigger format paper (I use 9″x12″ paper these days).  I thought I would give it a go today, even though it is still 2014.

Today’s watercolor experiment:

I found a photo of a parking lot I where I was waiting for my wife while she was shopping, several weeks ago. I liked it for the cloudy skies – a novelty at that time, although that has changed of late – the palm trees and the pink-flowered trees.

Process:

Preparation:

I had a pad of 12″x18″ paper of the same weight and texture that I normally use. The only difference was, it was a pad, not a block of paper. I added a step to my painting process: taping down of the paper to a sturdy plywood board. This has been the standard and recommended procedure to prevent warping and curling of the paper should it get wet. Watercolor paper always gets wet, so masking tape securely fastening the paper on all four sides is a necessity.

Painting/Sketch:

I sketched the trees and the cars with pencil. However the main most interesting feature of this composition was the sky. I prepared a wash of neutral tint, wet the upper part of the paper and applied the grayish pigment. Whilst dabbing the areas around the trees with a paper towel, I noticed the buckling of the paper.  I was not alarmed, as I thought it would flatten out as it dried.  Unfortunately, this did not happen.

I find it difficult to paint on non-flat surfaces. Today was no exception. I went through the motions, painting the palm trees trunks with yellow ochre, fronds with Hooker’s green; the pink-flowered tree leaves with Hooker’s, phthalo and sap greens, and Winsor red flowers.

Parking Lot
12″x18″ 140# Cold Pressed Watercolor Paper

Comment:

I am not happy with this sketch at all. I couldn’t work properly on the curved surface. The clouds just wouldn’t cloud up the way I wanted. Nothing seemed to work.

One remedy would be to go back to using a block of watercolor paper or a heavier weight (300#). I could also try stretching the paper, which is a process of pre-wetting the paper attaching it to a sturdy board on all four sides and allowing it to dry naturally. However, I was under the impression that this procedure was not necessary for paper of 140# weight and higher.

I hesitate to show the reference picture for this sketch. One would not recognize it from my sketch. However, with proper technique, one could use this photo to compose a proper watercolor painting.