"Pisa Range"
Oil on board
495mm x 295mm
19½" x 11½"
© Susan Harrison-Tustain

The first light fall of Autumn snow dusts the peaks of the Pisa mountain range. Snow clouds begin to envelope the pinnacles bringing with it, the excitement of the change of season.  We call this place “Central” (Central Otago, New Zealand) - austere, raw, beautiful, haunting, vast skies above rugged ranges. Captivating, compelling and beckoning.

The oil painting technique I used for this painting began with an underglaze of a grey/purple. Once dry, I then used the block-in oil painting method of creating the basic 'local' color of each area. I used these colors as the basic mix to establish the different areas in the painting: variations of greys with tints of purple for the clouds, dark grey/greens for the foreground, pale purple/greys for the light areas of the mountains and of course blue for the sky - all helped me establish the basic painting layers. I left my underpainting to show through in some areas - especially in the mid toned mountain peaks.

The next step is to observe the changing colors within each section, mix those colors and apply the detail - keeping it true to nature. Each area has a myriad of hues that describe this light snow fall, the forms - with sharp as well as rolling edges and shapes.  There are many painting lessons within each of these subjects. Too many to write here of course. For those of you who are artists and would love to learn how to paint skies, clouds, mountains, falling snow  - I hope to release an oil painting DVD in 2012 that will cover all these things and so much more.

I also plan to release a new watercolor DVD. This one will focus on mini studies of many subjects: capturing numerous subjects. If you are not currently on my mailing list - do join up.

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In my Art Lessons section you will find helpful articles.

If you want to learn more about Watercolor Painting and Watercolor Technique check out my Watercolor DVDs.

Happy Painting!
Susan

"Voyage de Vie"
watercolor painting
© Susan Harrison-Tustain

Techniques and methods generally mean the same thing. You can read about my watercolor techniques in my previous posts but I would also like to discuss how to use our brushes to give us different techniques.

Most artists stroke with their brushes. I most often paint into a clear water wash so I have found an incredible way of painting that is much better than stroking: Dabbing! I dab - I don't stroke! Yes it was a breakthrough for me too.

Try a little demo: In a clear water wash I would like you to take a fully laden brush (with water and paint). Now stroke your brush into the water. See how the majority of pigment is released at the end of the stroke. You have less pigment at the beginning of the stroke so your stroke gives you and uneven line.

Now I would like you to once again work into a clear water wash. Take your fully laden brush again and dab dab dab. Break the surface of the water wash each time. You do that by lifting your brush up and off the paper and out of the clear water wash. See how you can deposit so much more pigment with each dab. See how you can create a much richer and much more even wash by dabbing?

Isn't it magic!

Look at the painting at the top of this post that will show you the depths of hue you can get with this method:

The watercolor painting techniques I used for this painting are obvious because you can see the gentle transitions of hue. I have used a great deal of water to give the impression of serenity and peace and I have used light tones to give the feeling of innocence and gentleness. Watercolor painting methods and techniques can be adapted to paint any subject at all. Study my watercolor paintings in my gallery on my website and in the galleries on my DVDs. You will be amazed at the variety of subject matter you can portray with just five methods!

Have fun!

Susan

Learn how to paint skin tones in my watercolor portrait workshop DVD.
Learn more about my watercolor techniques.