I have painted with watercolor for many years, tried different papers, as well as illustration board and finally decided to stick with 300lb watercolor paper, but even with that, there will be “buckling” on the paper with heavy washes. I recently had the opportunity to try Raymar’s watercolor panel and I am hooked.
Along with one of my orders of canvas panels from Raymar, a 9” x 12” watercolor panel (rough texture) was included as a gift for me to try. I think back and wonder why I hadn’t tried it until now but definitely glad I did. The company has 3 different watercolor panels with different types of Fabriano watercolor paper that are specially mounted to a piece of thin aluminum. The surface is rock solid for any amount of water put on it and never buckles. Color on the edges don’t “bleed” or peel up. I have worked on all sizes up to 18” x 24” with other papers and always have to work through buckling, so even though these panels are a bit pricey, it’s something I can depend on and a wonderful surface for my art.
Happy painting and wishing you a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving coming up.
Lately, I have been painting with watercolor and this new piece is a work in progress, entitled “Gone To Seed”. We live across the way from a few fields that grow many different crops and sadly one of the very large fields was sold and all those beautiful artichokes were just left without being harvested.
13” x 18” watercolor using Fabriano 300lb. Paper, Winsor Newton watercolor paint and my Winsor Newton Series 7 paintbrushes
Stay tuned for the completed painting 🎨. Take care, be safe and please pray for all those trapped in Afghanistan along with those who have already given their lives to save them.
Sometimes the most simple of things to do just get set aside and for me, getting a post out now and then falls by the wayside.
I began painting with watercolors in high school and it has remained a favorite all these years. I bounce around from subject to subject but am now pursuing the desert theme and will paint it in both oil and watercolors.
Does watercolor painting intimidate you? If it does, don’t let it. I have worked on lightweight individual watercolor paper, 300lb. cold press paper, watercolor blocks, sketchbooks and illustration board. Watercolor blocks can be pricey but it allows you to get the paper really wet without buckling. For this current painting, I cut my sheet of 300lb. Fabriano cold press watercolor paper and after drawing my sketch, started with the large background wash. In the past I have used Crescent 300lb watercolor sheets which seemed thinker and of course, I was quickly disappointed and frustrated with the amount of “buckle” that was happening in this 300lb paper so I decided to wet it down then use regular staples and stapled it to my drawing board wet. In order to get the buckle out, before stapling it down, I got clean water and a wide watercolor brush and soaked the back of the painting. Then I did the same on the front of my painting taking care to start from the top, moving side to side without “scrubbing” the color away. Since it was so early in the layering of color, there wasn’t any color bleeding with this process. Once that was complete, I immediately stapled the painting to my drawing board.
Stapled edge onto wooden drawing board
Even with the staples, the paper buckled so I let it dry just a bit longer and put a piece of glass from an old end table to hold the painting down while it finished drying. You can use heavy books as well, just make sure the painting is not too wet when putting the books on it and leave it for a few hours. I added several washes later to the background so with each wash, I did the same procedure. I am sure the staples would have eliminated the buckling but I didn’t want to take a chance. When I completed the painting, the staples lifted out easily and although there are marks from the staples, matting the painting will cover it up with no problem.
Staple stains from the watercolor paint
It’s fun to experiment with paint and I would encourage anyone to paint with watercolors since it is so clean, requires very little space and is portable.
Here’s the final desert painting of a fallen Palo Verde tree. 15” x 22” watercolor on Fabriano 300lb. Sheet
More watercolor painting tips to come, so until next time, happy painting 🎨
What is your favorite place to spend time at? For me, just about any beautiful place outdoors, especially when the light is picture perfect like this scene in Santa Barbara, CA.
I always love setting up a blank canvas to begin a new painting, along with the challenge and satisfaction each new project brings. Now that we are on Day 2 of 2021, I am looking forward to the wonderful new possibilities of this coming year… new moments shared with family and friends, new experiences and yes, the opportunity to be creative.
Looking back over last year, I am so glad to have had the opportunity to paint and be creative, as well as get together with close friends and family – even with this pandemic. I am appreciative of the many positive comments and support this blog has brought and I hope that all who read my blog and have seen my work are able to enjoy a happy “moment time”.
Here is a 9 painting sampling from 2020
Looking back at 2020
No matter your location or hobby you enjoy, I pray 2021 brings you good health and happy times.
Some scenes just make me smile. I have always loved the youthful honesty and energy of young children and although this scene was taken quite a few years back, the joy and happiness in my daughter’s face led me to finally get this painting done.🎨
Focal Point 