Hello
Welcome to the FLOAT-YOUR-PIGMENT Newsletter #216 Favorite Surfaces
This coming Saturday is going to be a fun day of painting in Morris IL. Come join me as I paint a demo Plein-air. You can join along if you would like. I will be there to help you either paint Plein-air or if it gets to hot we will be painting in an air-conditioned room. Visit here for more INFO
In 2 weeks I head to the Vermont Art Event and then to Ottawa, Canada to Wallacks (Class Watercolor Acrylics)and then to Baldwinsville, NY to do 3 different workshops. if you are at any of these locations, come join me!
Sorry to notify everyone that had signed up for my Cheap Joes workshop in September.... it has been canceled due to not having over 10 people sign-up.
Yes to Class at the Civic Center in Libertyville, Thursday, July 18th 1pm to 3:30pm
NO Class at the BeckerArt Gallery in McHenry, Saturday, July 20th 9:00 am to 11:30 am
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Many of my students have noticed that I have been working on many new surfaces this year and for many artists that is something an artist doesn't like doing, To change and try new surfaces seems for many something foreign and takes them out of their comfort zone. Most artists get very comfortable with their supplies and will never use anything except what they are used to. That also goes along with doing the same medium and style over and over again. That, however, is
what artists are taught and are told they should be doing, and that's painting things over and over to get good at that particular way of painting. But there comes a time when I feel every artist should try something new. I tried many new surfaces this year and I think it makes you really excel in so many wonderful ways.
For many many years all I ever used was Arches and Strathmore Bristol Board... the Arches my teachers recommended and the Bristol Board I got for free because the advertising industry started doing everything on a computer and there was no more key-line and paste-up being done on real Bristol board paper. So as the agencies were throwing away the Bristol board I
was snatching it all up and using it for watercolor.
Last year the paint company Holbein suggested I try and help test some of this new watercolor paper that the Legion paper company was making called Stonehenge Aqua... of course at first I was just like every other artist and was stuck in my ways. Then the Legion company sent me some samples and after testing it I loved it.
Why did I love the Stonehenge Coldpress 300lb watercolor paper, because it took my 2 favorite papers at that time which were Arches and Bristol board and turned a watercolor paper that I felt put 2 papers into one. I loved the texture and how it absorbed but also how perfect the surface worked for me, I loved how the paint would sit on the surface a little like a
bristol board but with texture. I felt like I was getting 2 papers in one. For me it felt like they made this paper just for me, it compliments my style like no other I had ever tried before. If I wouldn't have tried a new paper I would have never known how much I loved it.
Then the Legion company came out with another Stonehenge Aqua but this time in Black. This seems strange at first and I had the reaction I'm sure every transparent watercolorist has when they hear Black watercolor paper, and that is how do I use watercolor on it. Well, I have to tell you it's very easy and you can get some of the best watercolor effects using watercolors on Black Watercolor paper. See work below.
Golden also makes a product called Gesso Absorbent Ground and if you like doing watercolors on different kinds of objects then this is the product for you. I have used Golden's Absorbent ground on coffee tables and it actually works great.
Then there is a paper that isn't paper but Plastic called Yupo and they make 3 different versions. Again as a watercolorist, you think how is it possible to paint on this paper. Well, it is very possible and again you can get some amazing effects on it. See below to some of my work on Yupo.
So when you get to that point in your paintings where you need some change, try something new it can do you wonders!
David
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This is a watercolor painting was done on Stonehenge Aqua Black with Holbein watercolors and I use their watercolor Titanium white to mix with some of the more transparent colors. Transparent colors do work on the black and give you some amazing washes.
WORKSHOPS and DEMOS in 2019
Morris Watercolor Guild CLASS, Liberty ARTS Festival, Morris, IL. July 20th
For information Click Here
Vermont Art Event WORKSHOP Classes, VT, July 29th - August 2nd,
For Information Click Here
Wallacks Art Supply store CLASSES Ottawa, Ontario August 10th
For Information Morning Class, Afternoon Class
Art and Soul Watercolor Group WORKSHOP, Baldwinsville, NY, August 12th - 14th,
Information to come
Cheap Joes WORKSHOP, Boone NC, Sept. 9th - 13th
For Information Click Here
Dillman's Watercolor WORKSHOP, Lac du Flambeau, WI, Sept. 23d - 26th
For Information Click Here
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The product I am posting this week is a sample package of 10 different papers that the Legion paper company makes. It is an excellent way to try out so many different kinds of paper without having to break the bank.
Inside this sampler you get watercolor papers, drawing papers and Yupo papers.
Many of these papers are now some of my favorite papers to work with... try something new, who knows you may love it.
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Buy this or any product here on Amazon
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Questioned Asked:
Do you get paid by these art product companies to promote their products in your newsletter?
Questioned Answered:
Short answer: NO
The products that I have been promoting with the Product of the Week link is my Amazon affiliate program where I get a cut of the sales of anything you buy on Amazon. The company that makes those products don't pay me for these links to Amazon. This is a way to defer my costs of my payments to put out this newsletter.
I represent a few companies like Holbein, Legion Papers and I also have worked with a few other art companies because I love many of their products, but what I get from these companies are free products to try and use.
I have been paid to demonstrate for some of these companies but I get paid because I am working with them at an event, it's for my work I do at the events they hire me for. The product that I love and talk about I do because I love the products and want to pass that info on to my students.
There are a lot of great products out there, I just so happen to love these products that I endorse here in this newsletter and again I do it because my students always ask me about what products I love.
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Love this guys watercolors but he uses his watercolors also to make them into tattoos. His tattoos look like watercolor on the skin, very cool and creative.
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Shop Amazon by clicking the logo below to help me fund this newsletter... Thank You!
For any other info please email me at david@davidrbecker.com
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