Innovative Layering in Watercolor Painting

Watercolor painting can be much more than working only with watercolor paints and water. You can add other mediums such as gouache, acrylic or ink, or you can add them all together. You can also apply other items such as acrylic medium, salt, alcohol and collage elements like fancy papers or strings. Even sand can be used.

The possibilities are limitless. No rules apply. You can even layer all these elements together in something called "polyphonic" composition. This is a musical term meaning layers of melodies and harmonies coming together in a single whole.

Layering different elements like paint, salt and sand add an unusual and complex spatial sense of movement in several different areas on the painting. Even though these may not be 'pure' watercolor paintings, they are still watercolors. These paintings work best with Arches cold-press 140-pound paper. The paper may be stapled to a sheet of plywood while still dry. Then when wetted, it will buckle forming hills and valleys for additional interest.

After applying several layers of paint, drying each layer before applying the next, cover the entire painting with a layer of beach sand and kosher salt. The salt absorbs the water from the paint, forming patters resembling frost. The sand hold the wet paint in place as it dries. Spray the sand and salt-covered painting with water from a spray bottle/mister. Draw into this wet mixture with the wooden end of a paint brush, not unlike drawing in the sand at the beach. Spray more water into the channels made by your drawing to create distinct lines. You can even spatter water and paint onto the sand. Slowly or quickly dry the painting. The affect will be different with each drying technique. Experiment with the look you like best.

When the paper has thoroughly dried, carefully scrape off the sand and salt mixture with a knife or by brushing it with a brush. It is a bit like uncovering an archeological dig. The painting will have a stone-like glint from the salt. When all the mixture has been carefully removed, you can re-stretch the painting to remove unwanted buckling. This can be accomplished by laying the painting face down on terry cloth towels. Then use a spray mister to spray the back of the paper until it is totally wet, making sure to wipe up any excess puddles of water. When the paper is sufficiently wet, turn it back over onto the plywood board and staple it back into place and allow to dry.

The final step in creating this multi-layered watercolor masterpiece involves masking and removing paint. First, mask the borders of the restretched painting with masking tape. Also, mask off areas of the painting to create designs and also make lines and shapes by cutting and tearing the tape into various shapes. The paint in areas that are unmasked is then lifted with a wet sponge. Remove only the top layer of paint, revealing the colors and shapes that lie beneath. The areas where the paint has been removed will be lighter and may be painted with other colors or made into darker shapes. Gold leaf can also be applied or any other metallic color if desired.

You will be pleasantly surprised with the beautiful and unique painting you have created.

Source:

Doreen K. Satter