LATEST TECHNIQUES



OIL ON WATERCOLOR



SNOW GOOSE FALL FLIGHT
15"X22"


This painting falls into the mixed media category. It is a mixture of  watercolor for the base
coat  where it is allowed to dry completely, and oil painted on the second with only
turpentine as a thinner. The key words that will describe this method are: wet-on-wet,
 whisking, broken color and splicing.  This will not be a demo lesson, and is only
intended to open this concept up to up to you in the hopes that you will try it yourself.





STEP 1

Begin with a convenient size of quality watercolor paper, such as Arches 300 lb cold
press, sketch or transfer the subject lightly on the paper. I usually like to sketch in
my main background movements lightly. Use a waterproof ink pen and ink in the
lines on the bird.





STEP 2

Wet the entire paper down and do the entire background as you see it.  Always wet
the paper down thoroughly. Start with the lighter colors and proceed to the darks
while the paper is still  wet completing the background at one sitting. It took me about
30 minutes. If at any time it starts drying on you, stop, completely dry the paper and
wet it thoroughly again, then complete it. Wet on wet is just what the name implies,
do everything while the paper is wet.





STEP 3

This close-up reveals the similarity of this technique to under-painting in other mediums.
Most of the orange middle tones you see on the head and body are actually the first layer
of paint coming through. That is why you must let it dry completely before you begin.
This is where the term broken color color comes. It is literally covering without disturbing
what is under it. The oils must be put on very thickly and then  you use the technique
called splicing, where you take the turpentine and wet your round brush, then proceed
to soften the edge while it is wet. This is called whisking, and to do this press the brush
down and split the hairs, gently work it back and forth and you will get the colors to
literally blend  together until your eye and imagination will see them the same. Oils is the
only medium that I have ever used on watercolor where you can cover and not tell it.
No taping...no mistik. I executed the entire painting in 2 1/2 hours. The oils will dry
very quickly, don't be alarmed, as a process called flashing takes place that you can't see
with the naked eye. When the turpentine hits the air there is a literal explosion that takes
place causing the pigment to dry almost instantly [even white], enabling you to
paint over the painted surface relatively quickly.........Enjoy.

WATCH THE DVD SECTION IN PROGRAMS AS I WILL BE COMING OUT  WITH THIS SOON.




SNOW GOOSE DETAIL

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