retro fave post- underpaintings, the wisdom of Richard McKinley

 9x18 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper
I am home. Back to the wonderful heat and humidity of the DC area. I am not being sarcastic. I do love the heat and humidity. I did miss the way it makes me feel loose all over, relaxed.
This is a painting I did at my fave field on Whidbey Island. I never did post it when I was away. I have so many from my  wonderful trip. Some I like, some I don't like. Some that can use a little space and maybe a little work. This is one that I decided I like. With it I post some of Richard's wisdom about underpainting.
Just for your information, Richard usually works on white Wallis paper. It takes the watercolor splendidly. Keep in mind that sometimes Wallis paper is a little irregular and repels watercolor in an orange-peely way. It's important to mount it and museum grade is best for watercolor.  (You can buy it mounted at Dakota Pastels) Instead I usually paint on Uart paper. There is no need to mount, I just tape it down. The effects are slightly different and I find I have to use Chinese White (a watercolorist's nightmare) if I want bright white on the dark Uart. It is a wonderful, predictable paper. I love it! Another aside note- this is a link to my post about my watercolor palette. Just in case you missed it.

Underpainting Wisdom from Richard:
"In an underpainting you need to be disciplined. With it you place you "meat and potatoes" (odd to say for a life-long veg). You do this so that you can put the dessert on top. Think about what marks you want to place on top.
Paint from the shoulders. Make gesture. 
Don't get edges in an underpainting. Instead choose later where they will be (focal point.) Have just a few colors dominate your underpainting. Save the other color for later."

 Below is Richard's underpainting done at Rosario. WOW! It was even better in person!

Richard says,"Nudge it."
"When you begin your pastels start incrementally. Let your underpainting shine through...you can always put more on later."

finished jewel

Now that I am back I will make time to visit every one's blogs and see what I have missed. I really did appreciate all your comments during my long trip. It was really nice to quickly check in and read what everyone was thinking. In addition, I loved meeting two of my blogger friends: Lisa and Casey. In fact the day before I left Washington I was in Edison viewing an exhibit that my blogger friend Lisa was part of.  Birds. She had two beautiful oils, done in a jewel like way. She glazes and makes beautiful translucency.

quandary over color

I realize (from all my plein air painting) that the landscape is made up of more neutrals than pure color. Beautiful grays. Still when let to my own devises I use more pure color than I must "see." Balance is the key, even in color, and I can't always seem to find it.
This one is done on a piece of 320 Uart- a bit too scratchy for my tastes. It holds lots of pastel, but will take off your skin after just a little finger rubbing. Yipes. I tried 600 and 800 and while they are smoother and easier to blend, they buckle with water media (problems for underpainting).  I know I can mount them...but since my small paintings are studies that seems like a lot of work. Back to 400, the magic number...for me.

On another note: Upcoming posts-
*new method for notans
*interview with Katherine Tyrrell ( of the wonderful blog Making a Mark)
*interview with Christie Scheele

In the meantime, if you have a moment, check out my new website. I am still working on it..... but it's up. There's a button for "sign up for my newsletter." My goal is to do a small newsletter- maybe 4 times a year. If you want to receive it sign up there.

Icy Protest Coat of Green

9x12 pastel and frozen watercolor on Wallis $100.
Ok, so it's a total woofer. Frustrated and frozen. I am a convert to Uart paper, never again to use Wallis ( at least with frozen watercolor). It's crazy how differently the Wallis paper received the icy watercolor. I found myself scratching it with the butt of the brush over and over again in frustration. Oh well...lesson learned.
What is really curious to me is, that when the water is completely frozen it is mainly a blueish- green and reflects little of the surrounding colors; instead it wears it's own coat as if in protest.

And a big welcome to all my new subscribers! Thanks for joining my blog family!

Till next time,
Loriann

PS We think we might get some snow tomorrow....keep your fingers crossed for me!