Learn more about how to create a glow in your watercolor paintings

Create form with monotone using warm and cool colors

Untitled Watercolor painting : Parrot Tulip
© Susan Harrison-Tustain

Richard and I were wandering around Victoria on Vancouver Island  Canada - such a beautiful place. Alongside a grand hotel I spotted a flower bed of stunning Parrot Tulips. I loved their frilled edges and form, especially they way they cupped the stamen as if protecting it from harm. Maybe it was to encapture a bee so it didn't fly away before completing pollination! I am awed by the beauty of such things.

Can you see the way the red glows in this painting? My underlayer of yellow creates this glow and even though there are layers of red over the top of the yellow - can you see how it still permeates through and lifts the red into a warm glow - despite being in shadow? Notice the highlights and the variety of red hues I have mixed to create the form of this glorious Parrot Tulip.

I will write a lesson in my next newsletter where I will discuss how to create convincing and beautiful form using warm and cool colors but limited to an almost monotone hue as in this painting.

Do ensure you are on my mailing list so you will receive my complimentary newsletters which are full of news and also inspiration such as this.

The response to my 15 page feature article "Is it Oil or is it Watercolor?" in the April/May issue of International Artist Magazine has been overwhelming and humbling! Thank you to you all for your comments. This article seems to have really hit a chord with so many of you - I wanted to write and share my thoughts and observations, bringing attention to important issues that haven't been highlighted before.

Passionate about painting and helping artists and lovers of fine art - I love to share all I know about painting through articles such as this - as well as via my art instruction Watercolor DVDs and workshops. I feel my teaching - using insights into my thought processes, reasoning and deliberation - are the best way to pass on the important breakthroughs that I have found to have made the biggest differences to my work. I believe teaching in this way is an enduring way to introduce new thoughts and open new concepts and depths of understanding for artists. I often liken it to opening a window and showing all the possibilities and potential that are there in the methods and techniques I use. It's so exciting to see you all fly.

Mount Maunganui, Pacific Ocean and Tauranga Harbour from our country garden

The excitement is mounting with my major exhibition only five months away:

I have heard from many of you who are planning to travel to New Zealand for my exhibition at the end of October this year. If you are planning to come to NZ for my exhibition, do let me know in advance so I can ensure you have tickets to my Friday evening invitation-only formal opening function. The exhibition is open for everyone to visit and view on Saturday and Sunday 29th and 30th but the Friday night function has a limit of just 320 places. These are taken very quickly  once they are announced in early October - so if you are travelling great distances and would like to attend this special function - please do contact us to avoid disappointment.

New Zealand is hosting the Rugby World Cup and the final is played the weekend before my exhibition. Our Tauranga Festival of Arts will also be running for the two weeks running up to my exhibition - finishing on the Sunday 30th - which is also the final day my painting collection will be on view to the public. It will be a busy time and is a great time to visit New Zealand and expecially our beautiful Bay of Plenty region. We are close enough to Auckland to make it a lovely drive - but far enough away that the busy-ness of the World Cup will not dramatcially affect our lovely peaceful and stunningly beautiful sanctuary.

You can visit the page below to view some of my latest collection of work. These watercolor, oil and mixed media paintings will be hung and can be viewed at my 'Recollection' exhibition in October this year. Below these paintings you will find information on my exhibition:

I will announce more exciting news as the exhibition gets closer, but in the meantime here are some links that may be of interest to those who have asked about our region:

Tauranga and Mount Maunganui

Click on the link below to see some images that will show you what is on our doorstep: (converted to a tiny URL for your convenience):

http://tinyurl.com/3qy5tce

Here are some sites that will give you more information:

http://www.tourism.net.nz/region/region/bay-of-plenty/attractions-and-activities/

http://www.bayofplentynz.com/presentation/tbopPres.aspx?ID=7939

Newsletter

I will be working on my newsletter this week. Feel free to register on my mailing list to receive my-far-too infrequent newsletters. I wish I had time to write more! In these you will read any breaking news on my art, articles and magazine features, books, new DVDs, workshops and I also often include painting breakthroughs that I have just discovered.

Click here to join up for this complimentary newsletter

In the mean time I wish you all the very best. I will get back to my studio and get my brushes flying as the exhibition is very close now! I like to make it a beautiful event that stays in the memories of all those who visit. We usually see approx 3000 visitors in the two days of the exhibition so you can imagine how I love to make it something very special for everyone.

Susan

One of the most common things Susan is asked about her paintings is this: "Is it an oil or a watercolor painting?"

In this newly released issue (#78 April/May) of the prestigious International Artist Magazine, Susan reveals her decision making process when and how she forms her choice of painting medium for her numerous subjects. Susan paints many subjects: floral, bird, still life, portrait, figurative, interior, landscape - anything and everything that nature presents to her.

In this in-depth feature Susan shares her vast experience with the color palette and art materials she uses, the methods, techniques, hints and tips that have all been breakthroughs to her in both watercolor and oil painting. Susan discusses the all important composition and framing that make her paintings stand out. Susan's understand of color theory and the importance of warm and cool colors is a major influence on her work. Learn this and more in this 15 page article in the International Artist Magazine. This article is written for you - the artist and will help you lift your work to the next level.

Here is the International Artist website where you will be able to purchase this April/May 2011 issue : http://www.international-artist.com/splash.aspx

This magazine is also available in good bookshops in the US.

Susan highly recommends the International Artist Magazine. NOT just because they have published this feature. Susan has many features published in numerous International magazines and books. Susan buys this magazine because the quality of this publication is superb, the content is diverse, always excellent and it is an art magazine that offers help, instruction, information and inspiration for all levels of skill and expertise. Susan has subscribed to this magazine since the very first publication of it.

She hopes you enjoy her article - it is written with you all in mind.

You can see more of Susan's publications in International Artist Magazine and other Magazines by visiting her Publications/Press page on this website.

Susan's watercolor painting techniques and methods are shown and described in great detail and depth in her  Watercolor Technique DVDs. Don't forget to check the Free Art Lessons Page for more information about watercolor painting. Of course the very best way to learn is to watch over Susan's shoulder and listen to her thought processes as she paints and deliberates each step, method, technique and stroke of the brush, and mix of color.

All these things are explained in great detail on Susan's 3 DVD sets (each set has two discs).

Each set offers three + hours of tuition, ideally suited to artists of all levels. Observing how Susan uses her brushes in her unique way, how she applies her paint, the specific color mixing she uses to create paintings of naturalistic realism - and to listen to her thought processes give invaluable insight and reveal why Susan's paintings are so much in demand.

These things cannot be condensed into text. These invaluable DVD sets concentrate on 'why' each of her techniques work and this will help you to lift your painting level to reach your full potential. This is the next best thing to a one-on-one workshop with Susan.

With over 20,000 copies of Susan's DVDs sold and sent to countries all around the world, Susan now also has her DVDs manufactured and dispatched from the US. Delivery within the US usually takes two to four days. For other countries, the shipping is from NZ and delivery is usually within 3 - 7 days.

To celebrate another article in the International Artist magazine, for a short time Susan is offering free shipping anywhere in the world.

Susan's latest DVD:
Painting Watercolor My Way
In this 2 disc DVD set Susan teaches how to paint several subjects in one specifically chosen study. This study will introduce you to numerous textures and surfaces using all of Susan's methods, color mixing and techniques, color theory and magical layering to create a translucent reality that glows. Watch as the subject becomes three dimensional with her use of warm and cool hues. Understand how Susan uses hue and color temperature to mold form and create paintings with a true presence. This 2 disc DVD set will show you how to paint a beautiful, delicate rose, leaves and dewdrops, decorated porcelain, woodgrain, rich luminous backgrounds, shiny surfaces, how to create the color of gold and so much more. Most importantly Susan helps you to understand how to adapt these methods to any subject at all.

Susan's Portrait DVD
Susan Harrison- Tustain's Watercolor Portrait Workshop
Learn how to paint a portrait using natural luminous hues so real you feel as if you could touch the skin. Learn how to avoid the traps for young players. Full of all the hints and tips that will help you create portraits that glow with realism, Susan shares her skill and the essential knowledge that will help you paint portraits that speak to the viewers of your work.

Susan's Workshop DVD
Susan Harrison-Tustain's One on One Watercolor Workshop
Learn how to paint several subjects, delicate roses, lilies, leaves, a luscious apple.

Watch as Susan creates backgrounds and explains the benefits of each. Learn about line and creating form, velvet petals, shiny petals, colour mixing and so much more.

Susan is currently offering free shipping on any of her DVDs - no matter where in the world you live.

Click here to view previews and information on Susan's DVDs