I noted Fred's comments about 'wishy washy' and I understand that because this technique relies on the transparency of the finished effect.
However I do hope you'll read it, its pretty short as Daniels attention span wasn't all that great either! He was so clever he just expected to pick everything up first try and he usually did! I never saw anyone master Commodore 64's bastard Basic as fast as he did.
WATER COLOUR PAINT TECHNIQUES #1 WASHES
You wanted me to teach you water colours?
I'm not an expert so all I can do is show you what works for me and it's as much to do with your own imagination and work ethic as anything.
If you want exact, precise placement of colour I can't help. The strength of water colours is in their transparency when used as 'washes' and I suggest we start there.
I prefer solid tablet paintbox type water colours because they are cheaper, less messy and easier to use.
STEP 1 - DROP SOME WATER ONTO YOUR PAPER AND LET IT SPREAD OUT BUT DON"T FLOOD THE PAPER
STEP 2 - USING A VERY WET SOFT PAINTBRUSH, CHOOSE ANY COLOUR YOU LIKE AND SWIRL THE BRUSH AROUND TO GET A PUDDLE OF PIGMENT.
STEP 3 - NOW DROP THAT BLOB OF WET COLOUR ONTO YOUR PRE-WETTED PAGE
STEP 4 - SEE HOW THE COLOUR SPREADS AND SWIRLS OUT?
IF YOU WANT TO HELP IT YOU CAN BY TIPPING THE PAPER OR BLOWING ON THE WASH.
I'd let it dry before doing any more because using multiple washes can be disastrous. Now stare at your page looking to see if any shapes suggest something like staring at clouds in the sky can sometimes make you see something. If you can pereceive a shape then lightly pencil its outline and figure out what else can make it stand out.
Now you have a starting point, I've just explained my basic random technique but I bias it heavily. Sometimes I tip the paper to get a larger wetted surface to make my washes because I know I'm doing a background. Then I might drop some light blue onto the top third and some green onto the middle third and a yellow ochre for the bottom third. They will always run and spread in unexpected directions but don't worry because when it dries it will be very faint.
Water colour techniques are not for the impatient. Don't be surprised if your first few tries don't give a good result. Just keep trying and don't toss any you didn't like because washes dry almost invisibly (depending on the dilution) and can always be overpainted later.
This technique is best suited to artists with an open mind and a willingness to experiment. You've been given all the information you need to get started with washes and the rest is a matter of you practicing and trying your own ideas on how to modify my technique.
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