Armfield - No excuses watercolor : painting techniques for sketching and journaling

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I dedicate this book to Mark, Grayson and Payton, and my four-legged soul mates. And to Creus, for healing my broken heart in a way that no one else could.

• eraser
• fountain pen
• hair dryer (optional)
• journals
• lightbox (optional)
• liquid frisket with dedicated brush
• paintbrushes
• palette
• paper towels
• pencils
• pencil sharpener
• permanent marker
• piston converter
• reference images
• rubber cement pickup
• ruler
• salt, table and sea
• sponge
• spray bottle with water
• transfer paper
• washi tape
• water container
• water-soluble pastels, pencils and pens
• watercolor paint
• watercolor paper
• watercolor pencils
• waterproof ink
• waterproof pens

Whimsical, wonderful, fluid, frustrating, intimidating, hard to controlWATERCOLOR! Most people love the look of watercolor but are fearful to give it a try because it can be like herding cats. Watercolor does have a mind of its own, so the key is to let go of the tight grip of control and just go with it! In many ways it is just like life; the more you push, the harder it is, and when you allow yourself to move forward with trust, things seem to fall into place.

I have been painting for many years, both in oils and acrylics, but watercolor has become my true passion. I love the way the colors bleed, move, separate, puddle and run. That is the beauty of the medium. I have found that my approach to watercolor can be almost Zen-like once you give in to its beauty and let it do its own thing.

There are many styles of watercolor painting that follow a traditional approachmine is not one of them! I like to explore and experiment in a fun and fast way that plays with color. My techniques are loose and fluid and allow you to find your own way and style.

In the chapters that follow, youll learn how to enjoy and play with watercolor paint. Youll get to know your paints with a few fun and simple exercises. Then youll discover how drawing can make all the difference in whether or not your painting turns out the way you want. After you learn different drawing and sketching techniques, youll practice a variety of painting exercises to help you find your own painting style. Finally, in the inspiration source guide, youll find thirteen sections of themed prompts so you can continue to practice your skills.

Not only will you have no more excuses for not painting in watercoloryoull fall in love with it!

I am warning youwatercolors are addictive! They come in so many lush and luminous colors, you may become obsessed. When it comes to watercolors, quality is the key to being, and feeling, successful. Cheaper materials will not give you the same effect and will lead to frustration. My suggestion is to invest in a set of high-quality paints and brushes at the outset. They will last you a very long time. Unlike acrylic paints, which once squeezed out of the tube, dry and then can no longer be used, watercolors can be revived for years to come. I have tried many different kinds and have come up with a method that works well, is easy to travel with and in the long run is cost efficient. The most important thing to remember when purchasing materials is to find ones that you really like the feel of and that match your needs and personality.

But paints are not the only material you need to be successful with watercolor. In this chapter youll learn about the brushes, paper and other materials youll need to achieve the effects you want.

Pen-and-ink drawings are often the basis for the watercolor work in this book, so it is important to have instruments that do the job well and that you are comfortable with. The most important thing is that they contain waterproof ink! If the ink is not waterproof, your drawing will bleed all over the place when you add watercolors. There are many different kinds of ink pens out there. I use different pens for different projects, and each has its own personality and feel.

Technical Pens: There are many brands of technical pens available and each has its pros and cons. These pens have a single nib and are generally all waterproof or are fillable with waterproof ink. They range in nib size from 005 on up. I prefer to use a 005 or a 01 pen, which adds a delicate touch to my contour drawings.

Rollerball Pens: These pens have a smooth, solid flow. They come in a more limited point size and most are not waterproof, so reading labels is especially important when purchasing them.

Fountain Pens: I love to use these pens to sketch! They come in a huge variety of nib and body styles. Some pens are piston filled, which means they have a reservoir already built in with a turn or a plunger for sucking up ink inside the pens belly. Others are dropper filled, which means that you need to use an eye dropper or syringe to fill the ink well inside the pen.

Lastly, there are pens that come with ink cartridges. Note: Cartridges are not waterproof. For fountain pens that come with a cartridge, you must use a piston converter. There are a variety of nib styles ranging from extra fine to broad as well as a flex nib that varies the thickness of the line when pressure is applied to the tip. I prefer extra-fine and flex nibs for sketching.

White Gel Pens: White pens can be used over watercolor paint to create areas of highlight.

Waterproof inks come in a variety of shades. I prefer black or sepia.

• fountain pen
• paper towels
• piston converter
• waterproof ink

STEP 1: Unscrew the pen top from the body.