Thursday, March 31, 2016

TEXTURING TECHNIQUES IN WATERCOLOR


During watercolor class Tuesday, I had the students trace out the photo printout I used (from a watercolor book by Elizabeth Groves), and then had them put that aside and we played with learning some new texture techniques.  I showed them how to use salt, sea sponges, plastic wrap, splattering with a toothbrush and other ways to create texture in a background.  That took up the 2 hours.

Next time we meet, they will paint the background using any of the techniques they liked and then they'll paint the flowers.

Here is my version so far.  (Can you tell the two texture techniques I used?)

The photo in the book had yellow crocuses at the bottom, white in the middle and purple at top - but I wanted to change that so I'm going to do purple and white only. 



The book I used for the photo reference is 
Exploring Watercolor 
by Elizabeth Groves.  




5 comments:

Deborah Nolan said...

Dear Rhonda- was it plastic wrap and salt with water spatters? This looks like a great lesson on texture. I have this book on my shelf- she is an amazing artist. Hope you are having a good week.

E.M. Corsa said...

Your color choices are always so beautiful Rhonda!

Jennifer Rose said...

plastic wrap and sea sponges??

RH Carpenter said...

Yes, plastic wrap at the bottom, Debbie and Jennifer Rose. But not salt or splatters or sea sponges at the top - it's a Shirley Trevena technique she uses:
Out down some color and then, while the paper is still wet there, take some watercolor pencils and, using sandpaper, rub off some color from the pencils. The bits of color stick to the wet paper/pigment and creates new colors and textures :)

Thanks, Elizabeth. I appreciate that comment. I think we all have a natural color sense that leads us to our choices in paintings and in clothing, too. I'm glad my choices are pleasing.

Jennifer Rose said...

oh ok, going to have to try that one day :) looks interesting