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It's only been a short time since you decided to paint a watercolor and already you have achieved success (right?). Not to belabor the point but lets take a quick look at what we did so we can repeat our success again and again!

1. We had an idea for a composition.
2. We thought about it and made some sketches.
3. We lightly drew the composition on the watercolor paper with a soft pencil (in case we wanted to erase the lines later)
4. We planned the washes, going from light to dark, and made notes mental or otherwise as to their order of application.
5. We masked off the areas we wanted to remain white and had some coffee.

   ONLY after these steps did we get out the paints and the painting tools.

6. We wet the paper using our trusty squirt bottle and quickly applied the washes. We added alcohol, salt or other modifying agent to the drying washes.
7. We let the paper dry and removed the masks. We filled in the masked areas using whatever technique seemed appropriate.
8. We painted in the final details using dry brush techniques and/or spattering techniques.
9. We removed/untaped/whatever our paper from the board/pad it was on and noticed that the white paper under the tape made a nice white border and framed the picture well.
10. We stepped back and said, "My, ain't this picture purdy?"

As you look at your masterpiece, notice how wonderful it looks because you planned carefully and understood the need to control the water, like guiding a stream through the forest.

Aren't you glad you didn't rush the planning stages, because now you don't have to say things like "darn, why didn't I see that problem coming and plan for it?"

I really don't want to be repetitive and boring, but it is very important to plan. Most poor watercolors are the result of not thinking about what you're doing, rather than not having the technical skills to get the job done.

Wanna make a rather interesting textured background?

Dampen a sheet of watercolor paper and liberally flow on washes of color, and let them swirl and flow into any shape you like. Crumple up some Saran Wrap or other thin WATERPROOF material and place it on the paper. Place a second sheet of paper on top, add some weight so the sheets are pressed together firmly, and let them dry completely. Remove weight, separate sheets and voilaá, instant really neat texture.

Variations:  If you wet both sheets, use LOTS of wash color, and press the sheets together so the color on one flows to the other. Then separate them and add the Saran Wrap,you will have a mirror image pair of textures when they dry.

The more sharp edges and crinkles in the Saran Wrap, the more lines and valleys will be in your final texture.

Now comes the really interesting stuff. Anything reasonably waterproof will make interesting patterns when pressed into the damp watercolor paper. Try: Autumn leaves, coins, engine gaskets, rubber gloves, straw, wire, sand, etc!

Windspinner
©1998 John Beckwith