Tips for Glazing over a layer of paint in Water Color

This painting is about ready to be glazed. See my next post to see the various ways I used glazes to change this painting.

Glazing is a very simple thing to do but one must always remember that the
First tip: paper has to be bone dry before a glaze is attempted. Often I wait 24 hours for my paper to dry but a blow dryer seems to work for most. If you are a beginner, I would also recommend that you….
Second tip: glaze over pigments (colors) which are more likely to stay put. example…. rather than glaze over cobalt blue try painting a color over pathlo blue. Cobalt blue is a great color when you need to pick up color…
( something to remember when you want some white or light in your blue sky) and because of this it has to be glazed over very gently.
Third tip : When Glazing over one pigment with another its good to use transparent pigments so the two will look like a stained glass window and what you will see is a third color created by the two… If you use thick paint with a lot of opacity the result will be less dynamic.
Fourth tip: don’t plan to brush over the first layer more than 2 times (later you may be able to but only with experience) … If your third color (the color you created by painting over the first with the second) isn’t dark enough try to paint over the first layer again after you have dried the paper again.
Fifth Glazing tip: Your brush should not be sopping wet with the second color and water…this very wet mixture may reactivate the first layer and you do not want to pick the first color. The brush needs to have enough paint to get the area painted with as few strokes as possible. After you have wet your brush, pick up your paint, then remember to lightly touch the base of your brush against dry towel (paper or cloth ) to remove any excess water.

When inspiration is low, rather then trying to paint a painting… try to learn more about your color palette by creating a Glaze test box.
A fun exercise for learning great combinations or what a glazed color will look like is to make up some small 3 by 5 cards you can keep in a recipe box with notes. You will find your favorites and will also be able to see which colors are easier to glaze or more difficult to glaze over. I used a large 1 1/2 inch flat brush and just painted (usually in one stroke) squares of color on each card, allowed them to dry, then painted over the squares with a second and often a third color.
TIP
Writing down the specific brand of paint used and the color combinations is important. I also put in a note for myself (I have no memory) as to which layer (or order) the colors were painted in.

Without the struggle it wouldn’t be worth it! Keep painting.
Shanti Marie
ARTIST

Santa in the off season

4 inches by 6 inches 30.0  watercolor on  paper.  

 

I was just practicing painting faces,&  as a warm up I painted this old gentleman.  Of course probably because its December I thought he looked like Santa. Tomorrow at open studio I plan to paint a fairy for a good on line buddy that was nice enough to give me her Watercolors. In fact… the deep blue paint that is in this painting is from her free gift.    Anyway, I wanted to check a few things… and after some thought, I’ve decided to paint the fairy much more “Loose” as we artists say… more like my Koi.

Country dreams

watercolor on

paper 15 by 20 300.00

Under the influence

11 by 15 Watercolor  and Carendach on WC paper $130.0

Busy busy busy… its been hectic this week and now they say a Hurricane is on its way, I had the rain gutters cleaned out and I can’t think of anything else to do to prepare.  We are really very much in land  from the coast and usually all we get is rain so I think everything will be OK.    Last week with the last hurricane we got five inches of rain in about 15 hours… but everything went well and our condo didn’t flood.  Cross your fingers for me.

Lavender Skys

This little watercolor on paper, 3″ by 5″ card is a bit out of focus but it’s for sale for $15.00

I love these colors and like to use them together because the mixture is very rich.  The colors are Quin Gold and purple.    

 

I have painted a daily painting for two years and now I think I will paint less paintings but paint more complex things which will take more than one painting session.  So if you see less paintings in the future just know that I want you to keep checking in with me because I see some dramatic paintings in my future.  They may take me two days or even three but I’m hoping what I’ve learned from my daily painting experience will transcend to the longer painting sessions and allow me to grow as an artist.

Lake Wylie Snowy Egret

A Snowy Egret 

I know this photo is far away but you can see the Egret standing on a nesting box.

Tall Tulip/ Big Tulip

this is a watercolor on paper  4 by 12 inches $25.00

Before I started this month’s theme I was working on a series of red tulips, you may look back and see   four I painted…. I don’t really have them out of my system so here are a couple of more tulips I painted this week

this is 7 by 7.5 watercolor onpaper

$45.00

Also …a painting tip… the dark background in Tall Tulip.. is pathalo blue and indigo painted with a 1 inch flat brush  in a random cross hatching manner and sprayed with water before it had time to dry.

Beautiful Earth 09

 

Watercolor and gesso on Illustration board.  Painted with a pallet knife 9 by 15″ $125.00

Water saving Tip: The faucets in your bathroom sinks generally use about 2.5 gallons of water per minute (gpm).  By turning off the water when you brush your teeth, you can save approximately 3 gallons of water! Filling the basin to rinse your razor when you shave can save about 4 gallons.

Beautiful Earth 06

4 inches by 4 inches, watercolor on ampersand ( aquaboard) $45.00

This painting is similar to my tribute to Monet series I did last month and I’m sure I haven’t finished this series as it’s one of my favorite to paint.  Also: it fits the theme for the month of August… Water.

It difficult to emphasize the importance of water and more specifically clean water.  If we could all do our part by being more aware of how many things we deal with on a regular basis that can seriously damage the fragile Eco systems in and around our water ways.  Most of the time it all comes down to the correct disposal of all types of household cleaners and often used chemicals.  Fluids like motor oil, anti freeze or household paint really should not go down the gutter or drain, yet I see folks do this everyday.  Paint thinners, varnishes, and fuels are often thrown onto the ground rather than sent to special recycle centers .  People over spray insecticides in and around their home not thinking about how these chemicals hurt lizards, frogs or small mammals.   I watch folks spraying insecticides all around bird feeders and bird baths not thinking they are actually hurting the birds they are attracting and these insecticides eventually end up into the ground water.  Take an extra moment next time you have to use any of these items to please be aware of how they are used and where they may end up.  Of course, last but not least… make sure to dispose of them properly.

 

Water saving Tip… When it rains put out several pails ( in a safe place) to capture all the free water, use it to water plants.  Just don’t forget it because Sketters will be out to get you!

Beautiful Earth 02

“Lake Wylie Evening Song” is a watercolor on canvas panel 8″ by 10″ $75.00

 

I like these colors together and I find the sunsets here in South Carolina can be very intense. 

The lake is always beautiful but at sunset it can be magic.  These wonderful bright skies only lasts for brief moments and you dare not look away because the light and color is fleeting.

 

Water Saving Tip:  Don’t use running water to thaw out your  frozen foods

Koi reunion

8 by 10 mixed media on gessoed canvas panel 75.00

This white koi is called a tancho and can anyone guess what the blue grey fish is?

I love painting Koi and couldn’t stray away from them too long.

Little butterfly and milk pitcher

 6.5 by 8.5 $75.00  This small painting is for sale for $75 dollars & Its ready to frame since its double matted.

 This butterfly doily and milk pitcher is after Arlea Pech…. She taught me how to paint realistic still lifes.   I love her work and will always enjoy seeing what she comes up with next.   Of course, its not for me.   I have learned to paint in this manner but  I learned something even more important…it isn’t my style.  When you first start to paint, you’re really hunting and searching for your own voice. you take classes from all types of instructors.  Your learning their techniques and their approach.   You’ll keep some of the techniques and you’ll also be throwing out some of it.  From all of these great teachers you are learning to find your way toward your own style.

Over the years I have always loved exaggerated color, I ‘ve always been drawn to paintings with great contrast.  This contrast may be in color, value or  color temperature.  I guess I like opposites! After painting hundreds of paintings, I think I ‘ve found my true voice.   I like a more impressionistic style which allows me the freedom to change things and to paint loosely with a little more imagination.  I love painting from my own mind’s eye.  Allowing the painting to tell me what it needs and accepting assistance from my creative muse.   Its isn’t what everyone does and that’s really OK.  I also allow myself to paint in a style that is reflective of my personality.

Tulip Buds

8 by 10 75.00

watercolor on paper.

Arew you getting tired of tulips?  Well here are three little buds.

I’ve had a bit of a sinus problem this week …. you may have noticed I haven’t painted much.  I find it difficult to paint if I’m under the influence of medication.  Either I’m too wired or too sleepy.

RED, RED, RED

8 by 10 75.00 A watercolor on paper

I think these photos just don’t turn out at night as well as those taken in outdoor light.   This painting is much more delicate than this photo shows.  I think its the flash. 

It is 11:54  PM and I’ve just finished this painting and hurried to get it on line before midnight.  I’ve really been having a difficult time getting all these commissions finished.   I had three  this week, and two of them were larger paintings, I’m still working on them, I’ll try to post them later this week if I can.

Dolphin Daze

6 by 10 $ 75.00 watercolor on paper.

I used to teach watercolor classes and Dolphins were a favorite subject of my students. Dolphins always seem so happy. They convey a sweetness and a wonderful spark of energy which is genuinely curious.
Next month I’m going to be doing a series of paintings which are related to the Earth and specifically water.  Be prepared to see some lake paintings because Lake Wylie is a great subject but I may do some under water paintings too. I’ve been working them up in my mind.  Usually I’ll walk the dogs several times per day and while on these walks I allow my mind to develop paintings. I see mist rolling across the water in the early morning light with fishermen standing in their Bass boats, also another painting of White Egrets and Heron standing at the waters edge or just taking off from the water.  Of course my beloved Koi looking up thru the water to the surface, and  then there is always colorful sailboats and  wonderful sunsets.  I look forward to my month of water paintings, and I hope this month of painting water will remind you how precious each dop of rain and every inch of water is to  us and our planet.