BeckerArt FLOAT-YOUR-PIGMENT Newsletter Dec. 24th, Sparkle

Published: Tue, 12/24/19

Hello

Welcome to the FLOAT-YOUR-PIGMENT Newsletter #239, Sparkle

Merry Christmas Eve.

I would like to thank those of you that have sent me your holiday cards, I love seeing all the great watercolors you have painted to create your cards. Keep up the great work!

This week I used masking fluid in the demo below to show you how I make water in a river sparkle.

NO Class at the Civic Center in Libertyville,Thursday, Dec. 26th 1pm to 3:30pm

Yes to Class at the BeckerArt Gallery in McHenry, Saturday, Dec. 28th 9:00 am to 11:30 am

Putting sparkle in your water

For the longest time I was totally against using masking fluid and to tell you the truth I not sure why I was so against it. I think I thought it gave to hard an edge when the masking fluid was removed. This now is the exact reason I use the masking fluid because I want a really hard edge.

Using masking fluid to make water sparkle is the easiest way to give water that shiny sparkle it needs when you are looking for that technique of sparkling water.

Before I started the watercolor below I used Holbein masking fluid with a small masking fluid brush to put a lot of dots on the waters surface. I also took the brush and tapped it on a pencil to spatter small dots onto the water surface. . I let it dry and then I gave it a first wash which is the first step shown below.
STEP 1

Step 2- I first took off the masking fluid after the first wash was done and dry. I then painted in the background trees.

Step 3- I add shadows that are cool in the snowy foreground

Step 4- I now add the darker more contrasted trees in the foreground.

Step 5- I add all the finishing touches like leaves and twigs in the foreground with a few leaves on the trees to give it that finishing touch. I also tone done some of the sparkles with a little light blue wash.

WORKSHOPS and DEMOS of 2020

DILLMAN'S FEST & PAINT PARTY Village Art Center, Summerfield, Florida, Jan 12th INFO TO COME

WORKSHOP Village Art Center, W/C, Summerfield, Florida, Jan 13th and 14th, INFO HERE

WORKSHOP Village Art Center, Acrylic, Summerfield, Florida, Jan 15th and 16th, INFO HERE

PAINT PARTY Dunedin Fine Art Center, Dunedin, Florida, Jan 24th INFO HERE

WORKSHOP Dunedin Fine Art Center, W/C, Dunedin, Florida, Jan 25th INFO HERE

WORKSHOP Morris Watercolor Guild, W/C, Morris, IL., March 6th INFO TO COME

WORKSHOP Brevard Watercolor Society, W/C, Melbourne, Florida, March 15th-17th INFO HERE

WORKSHOP Lake Superior Watercolor Guild, W/C, Duluth, MN, March 26th- 28th INFO HERE

DILLMAN'S FEST at my Gallery in McHenry, IL. May 3rd INFO TO COME

WORKSHOP Dillman's, Lac Du Flambeau, W/C, Wisconsin, June 29th to July 2nd INFO TO COME

Product of the Week
Holbein Masking Fluid

In the painting demo above the masking fluid I used was this bottle of Holbein Masking Fluid and they also sell a ballpoint masking pen too.
Buy it here

Artist of the Week

Nita Engle

I never got the pleasure of meeting or taking a class from Nita Engle but I had heard that her classes were wonderful. The way she uses techniques and textures in here work had always amazed me.

Nita had taught years ago at Dillman's and I heard from them that Nita passed away this year.
You can see some of her work up at Dillman's and she has out a great book you can get HERE.

BeckerArt Brushes make for great Holiday Gifts

Click Here to Purchase BeckerArt Brushes

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