Maury Aaseng - The Art of Painting Sea Life in Watercolor: Master Techniques for Painting Spectacular Sea Animals in Watercolor

2016 Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc.

Published by Walter Foster Publishing, a division of Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc.

All rights reserved. Walter Foster is a registered trademark.

Digital edition: 978-1-63322-932-7
Softcover edition: 978-1-63322-088-1

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the copyright owners. All images in this book have been reproduced with the knowledge and prior consent of the artists concerned, and no responsibility is accepted by producer, publisher, or printer for any infringement of copyright or otherwise, arising from the contents of this publication. Every effort has been made to ensure that credits accurately comply with information supplied. We apologize for any inaccuracies that may have occurred and will resolve inaccurate or missing information in a subsequent reprinting of the book.

Artwork on front cover (center) and 1659 2016 Maury Aaseng. Artwork on front cover (top right), back cover, pages 15 Elizabeth T. Gilbert.

Authors: Maury Aaseng, Hailey E. Herrera, Louise De Masi, and Ronald Pratt

Project Editor: Christy Phillippe

Page Layout: Britta Bonette

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Reproduction of work for study or finished art is permissible. Any art produced or photomechanically reproduced from this publication for commercial purposes is forbidden without written consent from the publisher, Walter Foster Publishing.

The sea provides some of natures most picturesque and scenic views, allowing the watercolor artist a great variety of creatures and environments to paint on canvas. This book has been designed with the sea lover and artist in mind, to help you bring both the grand and the everyday creatures of our planets bodies of water to life beneath your brush. Each chapter features a different talented artist as he or she guides you through step-by-step lessons designed not only to master the medium of watercolor but also to complete a finished painting of your favorite sea-life creatures. From learning which tool is most appropriate for which technique to drawing realistic sketches and achieving the best color wash for each painting, artists of all skill levels will enjoy the projects highlighted in this book. Break out the brushes and paintlets get started!

Watercolor paints are available in cakes, pans, and tubes. Many artists prefer tube paints because they are fresher and the colors are brighter. It is best to use good-quality paint, but if you are just starting out, its okay to use less expensive student-grade paint and upgrade to professional grade later. You dont need to have a huge palette of color. Youll find that each of the artists in this book works with his or her own palette of colors, listed at the beginning of each project. You may find you prefer to work with different paints, so dont be afraid to experiment. Youll also want white gouache for touch-ups and highlights.

Brushes

There are many kinds of paintbrushes available, but they can be narrowed down to two types: synthetic and natural hair. Synthetic brushes are usually less expensive than natural ones, but they dont retain water as effectively. Synthetic brushes are great for working with masking fluid. For the projects in this book, youll want a variety of flat and round brushes in varying sizes, a hake brush, and a rigger brush. Make sure you have one small round detail brush and several synthetic brushes for masking.

Hake This brush is great for laying in backgrounds on very large areas.

Paper

Watercolor paper comes in a range of textures: hot-pressed, which is smooth; cold-pressed, which has a medium texture; and rough, which has plenty of tooth (raised areas of paper). Watercolor paper also comes in different weights, designated in pounds. The higher the number, the heavier the paper and the less likely it is to warp when you apply water. A popular choice is 300-lb. bright white, cold-pressed watercolor paper. The tough surface of this paper allows you to use mask, as well as use some lifting techniques, without damaging the paper. The 300-lb. weight of the paper allows for a wider time frame to work wet-on-wet before the paper begins to dry.

Watercolor Paper

These three different sheets show how the paint looks on hot-pressed (A), cold-pressed (B), and rough, textured paper (C).

Palette

Palettes come in different materialsplastic, glass, china, wood, and metaland in various shapes. Plastic is lightweight and less expensive than other materials. All these palettes will clean up easily with soap and water. No matter what style you choose, try to find one with a large, flat area for mixing and creating washes and plenty of wells for holding all your colors.

Masking Fluid

Masking fluid, or liquid frisket, is a latex-based substance that can be applied over areas you want to keep white. When dry, the mask repels paint, so you can paint over it without covering the white support underneath. When the paint is dry, gently rub off the mask with masking fluid pickup or an old rag. You can also apply masking fluid over color that is already dry to protect areas from subsequent layers of color.