practice and more practice

[Susan Harrison-Tustain]

Hi Paul
Just a quick note to welcome you. Your portrait is really gorgeous! The power of that shadow is huge. It creates the form of the face beautifully. Well done.

I enjoyed visiting your website - lovely work!

Keep up the beautiful work
Susan

[paula]

As a general rule I do not stretch my 140 CP Windsor and Newton watercolour paper - I usually just tape it to a masonite board and for the most part it works very well.  Lucky you taking b oth Tom Lynch and Susan's workshop - I was on the waiting list for Susan's Oregon workshop but no one dropped out (I can't blame them!) I would love to go to New Zealand and take one but that is quite the commitment both time and finncially.  I was interested to note that you do your portraiture on CP paper - I also have used that and it actually gave me far less hassle than the HP paper but the end result looks very good on HP paper.

[paula]

Thank you so much Susan - that really means a lot to me coming from such a talented artist as yourself.

[Renee]

As a general rule I do not stretch my 140 CP Windsor and Newton watercolour paper - I usually just tape it to a masonite board and for the most part it works very well.  Lucky you taking b oth Tom Lynch and Susan's workshop - I was on the waiting list for Susan's Oregon workshop but no one dropped out (I can't blame them!) I would love to go to New Zealand and take one but that is quite the commitment both time and finncially.  I was interested to note that you do your portraiture on CP paper - I also have used that and it actually gave me far less hassle than the HP paper but the end result looks very good on HP paper.

Thanks for the information Paula . I have tried the portrait on Hot Pressed also. But the type of portraits I do are actually a bit old world style and not very colorful. They have a sepia tone to them and I like them that way. I was not sure if that technique would work well on the HP, but it cannot hurt to try it.

[mrdwyer9]

Hi Paula,
Really love portrait. I love the cute smile. Skin is beautiful too.

How do you find W&N cold press for smoothness.
Have you used Arche cold press. I was wondering if they differ. I noted that some have rough and smooth and i found CP best if i was using a wet in wet style of painting like Nancy Tichborne uses . I feel motivated to do a new portrait my first was the one of my 2 daughters and i would like to do some more i don't have grandchildren but have asked a few friends for photos of their children to practice with . I just don't have enought time but will have to start doing something at night after work if i can .
regards
Margaret

[Renee]

I also use both W&N cold pressed and Arches cold pressed. The smoothness is very similar. Sometimes I have to check the watermark of the label to know the difference since I stack them all in the same spot.

[paula]

Hi Margaret, I find there is a difference for me between the W@N cold press 140 lb and the Arches C.P 140 lb - I think it is in the sizing I find the paint just doesn't absorb as well with the Arches and tends to go blotchy.  However between the Arches and W@N 300 lb CP I think the Arches wins out but generally speaking I do not ike the heavier weight maybe for landscapes but certainly not for portraits  The smoothness for portraits is obviously not as good in the 140 lb CP but in some ways it is easier to paint on as it will take more abuse so you can scrub out on it a little more easily.  I know what it is like to try and find decent pictures of children to paint from. I used to paint my husband's grandchildren before mine came along and then I started going through the old family albums when my boys were small and usually there are a few gems.

[Renee]

I personally have never used 300 lb watercolor paper of any brand. To many watercolor professionals have told me that It costs more and sucks up allot more paint as well. So it is more expensive to use and the results are not really better art than the 140.

[Maylon]

Again very interesting topic, wow these weights can be so confusing, but i do know now, from this board, 140lbs = 300gr. I love the 300lbs which is the 600gr, or so I think, could be told I am wrong, LOL. I used that for 2 paintings(my horses and apples) and loved it. Definitely not for portraits though. It is easier to use than HP, sort of naturally gets soft edges which I like. I agree Renee, the CP is easier than the hot press, which is not at all easy to get soft edges. I am going to try the HP a lot more, as I  think you have to learn about all these papers, and one or 2 or even 3 times is just not enough time to learn. I am going to stick to those three HP 140/300gr, CP 300gr, and CP600gr.

I have just bought Arches 300gr CP, really hope it is good, as I have never used it before. I think it is so important for me anyway, as I  have jumped around with these papers (some I don't even know what they are) and they are all different,  it is very important to learn how they each behaves. How can we, if we keep jumping around?. A real "light bulb" moment for me. I am now keeping a  log book for ALL my paintings both w/c and acrylics, of what I have used and done, everything is noted( time stretched, colours used , and mixes etc etc etc) and kept track of, as we forget. I personally think this is going to help me hugely. I have always just jumped in and painted, on whatever I have, my way, sink or swim. Nothing wrong with that, but a rolling stone gathers no moss either.

Most good artists keep to a tried and true for them, palette and paper, we all HAVE to work this out for ourselves, the only way, what works for me, might not work for someone else and visa versa.

Thanks to all here for the wonderful advice, it really is an amazing place to be. I Love it.
Maylon

[Renee]

Again very interesting topic, wow these weights can be so confusing, but i do know now, from this board, 140lbs = 300gr. I love the 300lbs which is the 600gr, or so I think, could be told I am wrong, LOL. I used that for 2 paintings(my horses and apples) and loved it. Definitely not for portraits though. It is easier to use than HP, sort of naturally gets soft edges which I like. I agree Renee, the CP is easier than the hot press, which is not at all easy to get soft edges. I am going to try the HP a lot more, as I  think you have to learn about all these papers, and one or 2 or even 3 times is just not enough time to learn. I am going to stick to those three HP 140/300gr, CP 300gr, and CP600gr.

I have just bought Arches 300gr CP, really hope it is good, as I have never used it before. I think it is so important for me anyway, as I  have jumped around with these papers (some I don't even know what they are) and they are all different,  it is very important to learn how they each behaves. How can we, if we keep jumping around?. A real "light bulb" moment for me. I am now keeping a  log book for ALL my paintings both w/c and acrylics, of what I have used and done, everything is noted( time stretched, colours used , and mixes etc etc etc) and kept track of, as we forget. I personally think this is going to help me hugely. I have always just jumped in and painted, on whatever I have, my way, sink or swim. Nothing wrong with that, but a rolling stone gathers no moss either.

Most good artists keep to a tried and true for them, palette and paper, we all HAVE to work this out for ourselves, the only way, what works for me, might not work for someone else and visa versa.

Thanks to all here for the wonderful advice, it really is an amazing place to be. I Love it.
Maylon

Hi Maylon, the CP is only easier depending on what you are painting. For many paintings that require detail, the HP is much easier for me. I simply hate CP for flowers. I find it very frustrating.
 I honestly believe that what is perfect from some people is not so great for others. Sure its great to learn from others along the way.
What we "who are unique" have to do in the end, is develop our own personal techniques and find the materials that work best for us. It reflects who we are. Our signature.
PS ...Its obvious I am a Mental Health Life Coach Counselor. LOL!

[Maylon]

Renee I think that is exactly what I was trying to say, just not very easy for me to say it like that, have to go the long way LOL
Maylon

[Renee]

Renee I think that is exactly what I was trying to say, just not very easy for me to say it like that, have to go the long way LOL
Maylon

When you pick up all the tidbits from other art teachers along the way, not so very long.We are allot alike! We all incorporate what we learn from others into our own unique sense of style. 

[jwt]

Hello everyone, I recently watched Susan's demo of her daughter and am trying to learn watercolor.  I have been working a little with oil.  I have two small daughters and paint mostly them and my wife.  We live in Tennessee, USA.  Will try to post my first priming technique watercolor.  Will attempt to post a couple of my previous attempts

[jwt]

Hi again, I have a question. I cannot seem to load pics that are less than 70Kb.  I also seem unable to see many of the pics that are being referred to on the site.  I am sure that I am doing something incorrectly.  I just don't know what?

[Maylon]

jwt, Welcome !!!! WOW!!!! what a truly beautiful portrait, I am amazed, it is fantastic. Trying..... well you have got it, I think . This looks like watercolour, not sure by your post though, any medium, it is beautiful.