Watercolor Artist Blog

Juicy Watercolors

Jessica — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:06:02 GMT

Free Friday sample: Watch a segment of internationally-known watercolor artist Pat Weaver's demonstration from her latest ArtistNetwork.tv workshop, "Watercolor Simplified." In the workshop, she covers getting loose, working with value, handling edges and arriving at juicy color. Order the full-length video from ArtistsNetwork.tv.

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Free Sample: Watercolor Techniques

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:31:05 GMT

Enjoy a free sample of Gordon Mackenzie's lessons in watercolor technique. The artist is all about painting loose and lively, so get ready to go wet and wild with your watercolors. Order the full-length video from ArtistsNetwork.tv.

5 Tips for Painting Water from Charles Reid

Kelly — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:41:12 GMT

1. Water should be painted with hard edges between the light from the sky and the reflections from trees, buildings or boats.

2. Paint wet-in-wet within the reflections but rarely where the reflection meets the sunlight.

3. For distant water on the horizon, try moist Antwerp blue or peacock blue (Holbein). Sometimes I use ultramarine violet if the horizon line of the sea seems very dark.

4. In shallow water, use diluted Antwerp blue, peacock blue or Winsor blue. These are all transparent blues that retain their color identity when diluted.

5. Sometimes water near the shore can turn a delicate turquoise green. You can add turquoise green to your palette, or simply mix diluted cadmium yellow pale or lemon yellow with one of the diluted blues to achieve the same color.

For more painting tips from Charles Reid, check out:

the cover story in the August 2009 issue of Watercolor Artist (magazine)
Charles Reid's Watercolor Solutions (book)
Watercolor Secrets with Charles Reid (online video workshop)

New Watercolor Workshop: Dramatic Light

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:14:51 GMT

Check out a free sample of the latest watercolor video from ArtistsNetwork.tv: Dramatic Light With Patrick Howe. Howe starts very simply with just one watercolor and a brush, and then takes you through the different stages, explaining how to turn the white of your paper into sunlight. In his final demo, he’ll show you how to sketch out a dimly lit street scene in oils. Enjoy!

Download Art Instruction Right to Your Computer

Kelly — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:47:32 GMT

Thanks to recent developments in technology, we now have the luxury to choose how, when and where we receive information. Even if you're not a hard core techie, it would have been difficult to miss the buzz generated by the release of the Kindle (now in it's second generation) and other wireless reading devices that allow you to download books in just seconds. Today, the Chinese website Shanda Literature, which serves about 90 percent of China's readership of online novels, boasts 25 million readers.

Even if you're not ready to plunk down $359 for the new Kindle 2, you can satisfy your need for instant gratification and download your favorite art books and videos right to your computer. Check out these new digital watercolor products (from $8 to $19.99) from ArtistNetwork.TV and North Light Books.

Video Download: Pouring Transparent Watercolor with Jean Grastorf

Video Download: Creating Texture in Transparent Watercolor with Jean Grastorf

Video Download: Watercolor for the Absolute Beginner with Mark Willenbrink

Digital Download: Watercolor for the Fun of It: Painting People By Michaelin Otis

Digital Download: Watercolor for the Fun of It: How to Sketch with Watercolor By David R. Becker

Digital Download: Watercolor for the Fun of It: Flowers and Leaves By Judy Eaton

A Special Tribute to Al Zerries

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:15:02 GMT

The staff of Watercolor Artist is shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the sudden passing of artist Al Zerries, whose work has appeared often in our pages. To celebrate his life and his life's work, we offer this slide show of his portraits in watercolor, pastel and oil.

Two New Watermedia Videos Released from ArtistsNetwork.tv

Jessica — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:35:50 GMT

ArtistsNetwork.tv, our website that offers instructional (streaming) videos from today’s leading artists, has launched two new watermedia workshops featuring Bente Starcke King and Charles Harrington.

In Bente Starcke King’s workshop, "Beautiful Botanicals: Painting and Drawing Flowers and Plants," the artist works from fresh flowers and plants—using watercolor, colored pencil and ink—introducing techniques and principles involved in botanical painting. Click below to watch a preview.

In Charles Harrington’s workshop, "Acrylics: The Watercolor Alternative," the artist demonstrates how to use watercolor techniques to make the most of acrylics. He also demonstrates the use of additives to enhance the application of acrylic colors. Click below to watch a preview.

Find more details on purchasing these and other ANTV workshops at artistsnetwork.tv.

New Jean Grastorf Videos on ArtistsNetwork.TV

Jessica — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:17:29 GMT

We’re proud to announce two new workshops on ArtistsNetwork.TV featuring watercolor artist Jean Grastorf. As many of you know, Grastorf uses fresh approaches with watercolor.

In her first workshop, she demonstrates her signature pouring technique: Without a brush, she masks areas that are to remain white, and then pours transparent watercolors on the surface. In the second workshop, she creates an abstract watercolor painting, demonstrating techniques such as creating texture, using wax resist, masking, and scraping paint with the edge of a credit card.

Click below to see a preview of the videos.

You can also watch previews of the 10 other 40-plus minute videos to help you decide if you’d like to subscribe to an individual workshop ($14.99) for a six-month period with unlimited, 24/7 viewing access, or subscribe to all of them for a six-month period ($69.99) with unlimited, 24/7 viewing access. There’s no downloading required, and you can watch any time of the day as long as you have a high-speed Internet connection.

Milford Zornes 100th Birthday Celebration Demo on DVD

Jessica — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:29:33 GMT

Most of you are aware of Milford Zornes’ 100th birthday celebration at the Pasadena Museum of California Art in late January, almost one month before his passing. There at the museum, the artist gave a full sheet, full color watercolor demonstration, and donated the proceeds from the auctioned-off finished painting back to the museum.

According to the National Watercolor Society (NWS) newsletter, Zornes’ last gift to the society was permission to offer a DVD of that demonstration (with proceeds benefiting the NWS Building Fund). The DVD is now available, and it also features many of the artist’s paintings.

If you'd like a copy of the DVD, send a $20 donation payable to: The National Watercolor Society, c/o Chris Van Winkle, 436 Fresno Ave., Morro Bay, CA 93442.

Stephen Quiller: Color Theory for Watercolorists

Jessica — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:17:42 GMT

One of the seven videos currently offered on ArtistsNetwork.tv—a new site from F+W Media that offers instructional (streaming) videos from today’s leading artists—features beloved artist Stephen Quiller on color theory for watercolorists. Click below to see a preview of the video.

You can also click here for previews of the other six 40-plus minute videos to help you decide if you’d like to subscribe to an individual workshop for a six-month period, or subscribe to all of them for a six-month period. You don’t have to download anything, and you can watch any time of the day as long as you have a high-speed Internet connection.

Take note that more artists’ workshops are on the production lineup, including ones from watermedia artists Mark Willenbrink and Jean Grastorf, so visit often, and sign up to receive the e-mail newsletter for advance notice on new workshops.

ArtistsNetwork.tv Makes its Debut

Jessica — Wed, 14 May 2008 20:37:16 GMT

We told you it was coming: Today we’re proud to announce the launch of ArtistsNetwork.tv, a new website from F+W Publications that offers instructional (streaming) videos from today’s leading artists—so you don’t have to download anything, and you can watch any time of the day as long as you have a high-speed Internet connection.

So far, the site offers five 40-plus minute workshops, including two with Stephen Quiller (and at least two more coming before the end of this month), and more on the production lineup from other beloved watermedia artists such as Mark Willenbrink and Jean Grastorf.

You can choose to subscribe to any of the individual workshops for a six-month period, or subscribe to all of them for a six-month period—your call. Click here for subscription information.

Sneak Peek at Zbukvic's Sketchbook

Kelly — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 17:03:06 GMT

Our June cover artist, Joseph Zbukvic, allowed us rare access to one of his precious sketchbooks. Filled with lively figure studies, dynamic trackside sketches of racehorses, and enlightening notes to self, the artist's sketchbook reveals a little of the magic behind the scenes of his beautiful paintings. We featured as many sketches as space allowed in the magazine, but couldn't bare to let this treasure go without recording a few more gems for you.

Of course, nothing can replace the visceral experience of flipping through an artist's sketchbook pages, lingering over the notes in the margins, and running your fingers along the edge of a particularly masterful line, but this video presentation may be the next best thing. Enjoy!

Look for Zbukvic's cover story in the June 2008 issue, on newsstands April 22.

Milford Zornes Video Tribute

Kelly — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 19:09:03 GMT

The loss of American watercolor icon, Milford Zornes (1908-2008), has touched artists across the country. To honor this amazing painter and his work, Watercolor Artist managing editor Sarah A. Strickley put together this video tribute.