Pink Koi #2 8 by 10 $55.00 oil on watercolor paper
July 21, 2010 by shanti marieGeisha of the Sea (oil painting on wood)
July 20, 2010 by shanti marieLittle Falls Koi 8 by 10 Oil on canvas
July 18, 2010 by shanti marie“Koi Reunion” Oil on WC 300lb paper
July 16, 2010 by shanti marie“Abstract in blue 07″ oil ACEO, 2.5″ by 3.5″ $15.00
July 7, 2010 by shanti marieCalifornia Poppies
July 3, 2010 by shanti marieAbstract Aceo #91
June 30, 2010 by shanti marieGessoed Masonite
June 29, 2010 by shanti marie Did you try painting in watercolor and found it unforgiving and
difficult to control? Don’t give up, learn a fun way to paint in
watercolor that is totally forgiving, fresh and beautiful. Even a
beginner with little or no experience can turn out great paintings.
The reason is a simple one. With clayboard or gessoed masonite, you
can wipe off the paint and start again. With watercolor on paper,
you probably found it difficult to change things once the paint was
dry. Not so with clayboard and watercolor… this isn’t a problem, you
can totally work and rework the surface. This alone conquers the fear of
painting in watercolor and allows you the freedom to try new
techniques not always possible in regular watercolor.
Painting in watercolor on gessoed masonite or clayboard can be just
the thing to re ignite your interest in watercolor again. With only a
clayboard, a few paints, some acrylic brushes and common household
supplies even a beginner can finish paintings that anyone would be
proud to call their own. Stop by for the demonstration at Cheap Joe’s on July 21, 2010 In Charlotte NC to meet Shanti Marie, South Carolina’s Master watercolorist and learn
this simple and easy way to paint in watercolor.
Below are examples of the two surfaces Ampersand or Clay board is smooth and the other is gessoed masonite which you can choose to have textured or the boards can be sanded if you prefer, 

“Koi Duo” watercolor on ampersand 5 by 7 inches $50.00
June 28, 2010 by shanti mariePainting surfaces for watercolor
June 27, 2010 by shanti marieThe first example is 300 lb watercolor paper. You can see by the first and the second photo that this paper is rather thick. Most folks frame watercolor on paper under glass to protect the painting and the paper.


This example is watercolor on wood panel, the wood is painted in gesso and the finished painting is varnished or sprayed with a fixative.


Here the watercolor is applied to gessoed masonite ( ampersand and clay board are brand names) this looks a lot like the wood panel but the masonite is much thinner. Folks usually frame this type of painting without glass since they are varnished.

This example is a gallery wrap canvas, the sides are painted so that the painting does not need a frame.

These are just a few of the supports used for watercolor and I’ll post others as I complete the paintings.
Illustration board, rice paper, bristol, cloth, and many other supports are used but the most common is watercolor paper.













