FIX THAT WATERCOLOR PAINTING!

 Here are some great ways to fix, adjust, and otherwise re-paint on your watercolor painting:

The first step to removing paint is to start off as gently as possible. You do not want to damage the tooth of the paper or it will fuzz out and never look like the rest of the painting.  Start by gently blotting the offending area with a damp paper towel to remove paint. Make sure to turn to clean surface after each blot.  

You can also use make-up or microcellular sponges to wipe out an area. These sponges are very dense and seem to erase most color away like magic! Some color is very staining in which case, you try one of the following tips:

1. MAGIC melamine foam eraser:which is a super-fine microscopic sandpaper-like substance. (MrClean) Cut to any desired shape - Moisten edge and drag through dried watercolor paint to make lines. For larger areas moisten a flat end or wedge and blot or wipe through painted area to be removed. Let dry, brush off residual sponge crumbs. It works like magic!
   
   
2. ELECTRIC ERASER TIP: Use one of those little hand held (battery powered) electric erasers to gently remove layers of completely dry watercolor (do not do this if your paper is damp!) These little erasers have small tips and you can get very detailed in your erasing.  You can also use this tool to add detail or sparkle to a watercolor as well as erase unwanted areas.
   
3. DANIEL SMITH GROUND: Great to use if you have worn out the paper or have stained the paper and would like to bring it back to white.  If applied carefully, and in a thinned manner, it follows the texture of the paper and makes an invisible repair.  It is absorbent just like the paper. You will notice that it does not respond exactly like the paper - but in most cases it is close enough. You can also tint DS ground with color.  Caution: do not apply too thick.
   
4. EXACTO OR PIN TIP: Of course, there is always the exacto knife or straight pin, picking or carving method of removing paint ... this is nice for sea foam or areas where texture is ok.   it is a very harsh method and should really only be used for special effects like for breaking waves, maybe white fur, etc where it looks fab for the paper to have a little texture and rough edges and be pure white!
   
5. MASKING FLUID TIP:  Pre-plan and cover white or very light areas with masking fluid (like liquid rubber and rolls right off when ready - however, don't leave it on too long or you risk it tearing the paper in removal)
   
6. Q-tip: You can gently lift w/c off of surface with various types/brands of Q-tips,makeup applicator sponges,  brushes, etc. 
   • Dampen your Q-tip and gently stroke across area to make a line.  
   • Damp Q-tip or brush to remove w/c areas
   • Dampen area to be lightened... wait a sec or two, then blot with soft tissue or rag.  repeat as necessary to lighten area.

As summary, In a perfect world you will have your painting planned out and will leave the whites or have them masked off and won't change your mind about composition, etc.  But in MY world - I like to have some of the above tools to clean up areas that I MEANT to leave white or meant to have everything in the best placement...  haha.  

These tips are very helpful to give the artist the opportunity for a "do-over" - which is a very valuable asset!

whether you are a beginner or seasoned w/c painter - I offer you some great tips that I have learned the hard way...  to get you out of a pinch!

 One thing I would like to add is to be "light handed" on all w/c repairs as the paper will only take so much.   If the area is soaked, set back and let it dry before repainting/repairing.

TIP:   BLOT/don't RUB to remove excess water or paint

As the paper gets thin, it sometimes tends to give off a grayish cast, so if you have thinned out your paper, use Daniel Smith Watercolor Ground before proceeding.

Hope these tips have helped you with your w/c issues! or have given you jumping off points for repair ideas of your own!

 cj

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ACRYLIC PAINT PROPERTIES -tips

 

1. ACRYLIC PAINT DRIES VERY FAST!!

Acrylic paint will sometimes dry faster than you can paint!

• don't paint in a draft
• don't paint in the sun
• don't paint near heat or air conditioning vent

 You can remedy fast drying by using an 'acrylic retarder medium' product that slows the drying time. Don't overdo it though, or you will end up with a painting that stays tacky too long!

Have a fine-mist spray bottle handy to spray a light mist of water over your palette and on the area you are working to keep the paint moist.  Keep it very light so the paint does not run.
        2.  ACRYLIC PAINT CHANGES COLOR WHEN DRY
You will find out early on that acrylic paint appears darker when it is dry.  To understand why, take a look at some acrylic "medium"  note how it is milky white when wet, but dries clear? Acrylic paint has this medium like product in it to make it flow and to float the pigment in. As a pigmented acrylic color dries this "medium" also dries and becomes clear allowing more of the pigment to show through thus making the color appear darker.

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Watermark, Copyright mark, opaque and transparent words

Watermark, Copyright mark, opaque and transparent words
create one of the below options on an image. OR create a new file with just your watermark and save it to a safe place on your computer.  Then, when you have another artwork to label, just open the image and the watermark file, copy the watermark file then paste it on the image, adjust placement and then on to the next image.

OPAQUE Watermark:
No frills opaque signature/watermark for your images in Photoshop cs2

1. Open image
2. Select type tool
3. Select type color, size, style
4. click mouse on face of image and drag to desired size
5. type copyright symbol [ALT]+ 0169 and artist name
6. move to desired position on image

TRANSPARENT, etc.  Watermark:
Make transparent signature/watermark
1. On open image, select the type tool and black type color.
2. click on image and drag to create type/text box.
3. Type the Copyright symbol using [ALT]+ 0169, then type artist name.
4. Highlight the text and scroll through the fonts and font size to pick desired style.
5. Move the text block to desired position.
6. Across the top of the screen click "layers" then click "layer styles"
7. Change the text "layers" Blending options and click "LIGHTEN" (text will disappear).
8. Click on the layer "style" icon at bottom of palette and select drop shadow. The text will reappear transparent within outline shadows.
9. Experiment by adding other blending style options: emboss, glow, etc. for other effects.

Below are some examples on an image of several of the items described above.

WHY PROTECT YOUR IMAGES?

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Manage your new clients

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Interview by: Sea of Treasures

Photographer and Painter CJ Rider
Interview by: Sea of Treasures

Interview

Q: While this is a photograph, I love your paintings as well, which method do you prefer photography or painting?
My artwork is so intertwined that I find it difficult to choose one over the other. The thing is, if I am not painting in the field or from life, I use my photos to paint from. I do love to paint and it has a high level of satisfaction, however there is also nothing like looking at a disk of photos for the first time after an outing! When you comb through them and find that one little gem of a shot (well, hopefully it’s more than one) that you know has a special “wow” factor; – well, I think we all know how great that feels! Then there is Photoshop, which is a great vortex of time consuming fun too! One medium leads to the other for me which is why I enjoy them them fairly equally. Through my work I find I bounce back and forth between the mediums and when I am drawn to a subject I become very focused on the one particular medium or blend of mediums that best suits it.
For instance, so far, I have painted this photograph of pistachio trees in Oils and in pastels and have a variety of photo renderings as well as works from the digital tablet. Given the glowing aspects of the encaustic medium, I might give it a shot in encaustics too! Love to paint, but there is also nothing like “getting the shot” as well!
Q: Have you ever considered combining the two methods to create exceptionally unique pieces of work?
Yes I actually have combined the two to create new works in a variety of ways. I have used a hand-transfer method to incorporate parts of my photos into my artwork. I have blown up portions of my photo, cut out elements and incorporated them into a piece in a collage type manner. Loads of fun things to do when you combine mediums. I have actually started a painting from my photo, added transfers, then scaned all of that back into the computer and used photoshop to create a few other neat effects. I then print out the work on art paper and add more hand detailing if needed. The results can be very intense with many layers. Lots of fun to do too!

Q: What is your favorite subject matter and why?
I do lean toward people portraits for the most part. There is nothing more satisfying than creating a portrait that captures the essence of the person, even more than the likeness. When a client views their completed painting or photo for the first time and their eyes mist with emotion because the piece has captured that special quality in the subject. That is the best for me. That said, I will frequently sidestep to create a string of florals, still-life, landscapes, animals, or low horizon cloud and sky pictures. I think I take these side trips to refresh my minds eye.

Q: Over the past 5 years what has been the most important artistic lesson you have learned?
I have put together these thoughts from experiences throughout my life in the artworld and they have also held fairly true in the past 5 years: Sometimes you can build creative blockades for yourself because of pre-conceived notions about life, art and the people in it. Besides basic function, common sense and safety; Art and photography rules are meant to be used as jumping-off points to your own path, they are not necessarily the path itself. No one person has the “one true method or way”. An artist takes the information and creates their own vision and path, shut out the noise and chatter, and allow the mind to accept and react to its own creative voice from within! So I guess to sum it all up into one lesson maybe I would say: ”be true to your inner creative being” An often over used saying, yet it’s “easier said than done”.

Q: What made it so valuable?
Being true to myself, not blindly buying into popular or pre-conceived notions or popular stereotypes has freed my own creative eye. I am not afraid to create something that is not the “norm”. I have had many art labels ascribed to me over the years as I splash and dabble along to my own tune, I have had to use these same art labels to describe my website, workshops or other public postings. I just don’t let them box me in or stifle my curiosity, experimentation and eclectic nature.

Q: Looking ahead over the next 5 years what do you aspire to achieve artistically?
I would like to see my Budding Artist program grow. (BuddingArtist.Info) It is an art workshop each week for “at risk” children. I would personally like to put some of my artistic ideas and “how to’s” in book form to give others the info that I wish I would have had when starting out. Much can be demystified for aspiring artists and photographers.

Q: What artistic method(s) are you looking to master in the future?
I would like to further perfect my skill in Encaustic painting, it is a fascinating medium. The technique is centuries old but continues to quietly draw people into its rich beeswax and vibrant colors. Once you play in the wax you are hooked (it is very sticky)! I have dabbled in it for many years but am currently jumping back into it with both feet. Actually, a fairly new venture for me is working with YUPO paper, a plastic-like paper. I keep on working it and hope to stay in the saddle until I can make the paper respond more favorably to my brush!

Q: Is there an artist out there who’s work inspires you?
Lately I have run across so many inspirational artists on Fine Art America and other internet artist havens. It has really broadened who inspires me to a level where it is difficult to list them all off If you would have asked me this question before the internet – I would have had a couple of very clear answers for you- because back-in-the-day “we” were all exposed to basically the same handful of artisans. But now, there are so many to look up to and be inspired by.

Q: Is there a project or piece of work that you will be sharing with your fans in the near future?
Yes, I am working on a series of encaustic works that I will be sharing in the near future. The pieces will be from realistic and detailed to abstract and instinctual. If what I have so far is any indication, it should prove interesting.

Q: What can you say about it to wet our appetites?
You will see rich colors, textures and translucency that only hot beeswax can produce! You may even see bits of my photography involved!

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EXPERIMENT TIME!!! - get rid of the Blas, Blues, Slumps and doldrums!

EXPERIMENT TIME!!!!
Try this: [disclaimer: this is just for fun, I am not a doctor or psychiatrist. This is not real advice and is just positive self-reinforcement practice]

I Watched a TV program where a hypnotist guest said something similar to this only I added my twists to it..  lol:

1. get comfy, relax and close your eyes
2. hold both hands palms up in front of you
3. imagine all the good/positive things connected to getting in your studio and painting in the right hand
4. pause n reflect ..  really feel it and think about the good...
5. imagine all the negativity and things that stop you in the left hand -your fears, tiredness, can't-do-it-ness, etc.
6. pause n reflect ..  really feel it and think about the negative vibes

NOW - while still extended out in front of you... place the palm of the left hand into the palm of the right hand and feel the two co-exist in harmony - All of the fear of the negativity is balanced by all of the good and positive.  while holding this position...Realize what the fears really are and why they tend to stop you from being creative and really think about the positive and how it feels to be successful (think of an actual successful and satisfying moment). Where was this negativity when you felt that positive successful feeling... And which was right - positive, negative or a combination of both.  

pause n reflect ..  - really feel the mix and balance of the two coexisting and one not overshadowing the other.

NOW- bring those two cupped hands to the center of your chest and hold them there---  integrate them into your whole body .... feel them working together and no longer fighting - the negativity becomes smaller and is more like a guide to keep you safe and not overdo. But the good is warm and flows through your body like renewed creativity.

pause n reflect .. - really feel the two working together through your whole body and mind - see it working - visualize yourself creating and being happy and the negativity is in the background as just a supporter to help you do it! rather than a larger than life block from doing it...

Now, open your eyes and look in a mirror -  SMILE!  Think all the creative thoughts you desire and your negative side will NOT put you down or tell you that you "can't"  Instead it will support  and give you a balance and energize you to get going!  

Do this every day and multiple times a day as needed until you really feel and understand this balance of positive and negative and believe that you can be creative without judgement, criticism and negativity from yourself.  Positive reinforcement works - 

• Every time you see your reflection tell yourself something positive aloud (forever)
• You can change up the above wording to fit any issue in your life -
• May the Force be with you!!  :)

 

*Let me know how it worked for you!!   ;)

cj

 

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Weekly Art Instruction in Tempe Arizona

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Desert Mallow - Watercolor - CJ Rider

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