This Blog Has Moved

I had several blogs, one for each genre and/or medium I do, and that was overwhelming. So it's all just one blog now. This one is now discontinued. See you at Thick Air Gallery:
http://tbarts.blogspot.com

Keeping Watercolors fresh looking and avoiding mud

"L-Shaped Tree, Mayfield Park" Watercolor on 140 # cold press paper, 4x6.

Here are some tips on how to keep your watercolors fresh looking, and avoiding a muddy look:

1. Use a limited palette: For example, 1 red, 1 blue, 1 yellow, plus black. Not only does this help avoid mud, it also gives your painting a sense of unity.
2. Paint over an area only twice. Things get muddy fast if you paint over and over an area.
3. Do more than one painting at a time, and while one is drying, switch to another. This helps avoid overworking a painting.
4. Use good quality paper. I like Arches and Fabriano the best. With good quality paper, you can wash it off and start over. Some of the paint will stain the paper but it can still be re-used.
5. Use good quality paints. In some cheap paints colors are not as clear, especially the yellows. I like Winsor Newton; they are good quality for a reasonable price.
6. Wet the muddy area and add some pure primary color back into it.
7. Keep all areas of the painting developed to the same extent as much as possible, instead of concentrating on one area and finishing it out before moving to other areas.
8. Change the water frequently. Some artists use 2 water containers: one to rinse off the brush (the dirty water) and one to moisten the brush (the cleaner water). Also use rags to wipe extra paint off your brush.
9. When changing colors, make sure the brush is clean. Wipe it with a rag, then rinse if off before using the next color.


Theresa Bayer @2008

Fairy Lights

Fairy Lights 4x5 inches, hot press paper, watercolor & gouache
SOLD

"Moon Cactus"
The red orb on top of the Moon Cactus is not a flower. It is part of the regular plant. The reason why it is a bright ruby red instead of the typical green is that sometimes the cactus lacks cholorophyl. This painting of a Moon Cactus was done from life.

Size 6 x 4, watercolor and gouache on 140 lb hot press paper.
SOLD

View my eBay items

Red Red Rose

"Red Red Rose" OSWOA® 4 x 6 Watercolor on cold press paper.

View my eBay items

"Morning Mist"

This is a plein air of my back yard. By the time I finished painting the mist was long gone and the sun was shining brightly.

The texture on the tree was done by sprinkling salt into the wet paint.

Size 8 x 9, on cold press paper, done with Winsor & Newton paints. Which are archival and lightfast.

View my eBay items

Winter backyard

This is a bare tree in my backyard, it's winter. In central Texas winters are mild, no snow, it's usually above freezing, but quite often is drizzly or grey, with some wind. This area is easy to manage in the winter. It's the summers that call for endurance!