Today’s watercolor experiment:

A big thank you to Weisserwatercolours for the inspiration for today’s experiment. He sent me a link to a tutorial demonstration of how to compose ‘rivulet’ paintings. Yesterday, I tried my hand at a splatter painting, adding some spice to it (salt, actually), to see how what kind of patterns would result.

Thus far, I have only watched the first part of the video, but have learned some interesting things to try. For example, using non-staining, earth tones such as burnt or raw umbers yield interesting patterns when they are added to paper and allowed to drip when the paper is held vertically. I used this method but should really try using a spray bottle to add excess water.

I have had good luck with a watercolor called Moonglow (a Daniel Smith pigment). It is grainy, like the clay earth tones, but exhibits grains of two different kinds of pigment.  I applied Moonglow thickly, together with burnt umber and turquoise blue, in different areas, on pre-wet paper. I lifted the paper vertically and allowed the pigments to flow.

Drip Painting
16″x12″ 140# Cold Pressed Watercolor Block

The author of the video superimposed this rivulet technique on a background sketch. As of this moment I just want to experiment with the rivulets: lifting colors, adding different combinations of colors, using brush strokes and/or blooming techniques with salt or clear water.

Thank you again Lance, at Weisserwatercolours for the video. I appreciate it.