Today’s watercolor experiment:

I had nothing in mind to paint today. When that happens, I get my inspiration by just getting started. Sometimes I do this by dipping my brush in a color that suits my fancy and stroking it across the paper. Perhaps the color or the shape of the stroke will inspire my next step.

Today I used latex resist as my starting point. Instead of dripping it from a great height and risk splashing, I poured it close to the paper and tilted the paper this way and that, to steer the liquid into a pleasing pattern, before I let it dry.

Then I started by applying terra verte. This particular color, or at least the brand I have in my paintbox (Winsor Newton), requires quite a bit of pigment to render any color at all. It is very light. I used granular paints, Moonglow (Daniel Smith) and burnt sienna for the background, applying quite a bit of pigment and water so that they would stream over the latex resist. I also used a bit of cobalt turquoise in the mix. I used English yellow very carefully in the lower portion of the composition so that the delicate drip traces would not be disturbed.

Abstract – Stage 1

In contrast to the drippy earth tones, I wanted to use solid colors for the white spaces created when I removed the latex.

I applied calligraphy inks and Winsor Newton inks with a brush, to the white pattern.

Abstract 052515
16″x12″ 140# Cold Pressed Watercolor Block

Comment:

I would have liked a  bit more contrast between the bold inked areas and the softer earth tones, but I do like this composition the way it turned out. Perhaps in a future experiment, more intricacy in the white areas (with an ink pen?) would add the contrast lacking in this composition.