Author Archives: esanford

Mystery Technique #167

Curious about the techniques used here? You can learn more next month if you’ve signed up for email updates! 

ANSWER TO MYSTERY TECHNIQUE #166:

It’s fun to add texture and detail to your watercolor paintings with ink! I started with a graded wash for the sky and added a suggestion of distant trees. After this layer dried, I painted the first foliage layer of the 3 main trees. Next I masked out the tree trunks by cutting the shapes out of clear contact paper; then I painted the ground and sprinkled in a little kosher salt for texture.

Before adding more layers to the foliage, I lightened the one on the far right to make it seem farther away. I then applied different values of green with a piece of sea sponge to mimic the texture of leaves. I finished painting the grass with a stiff fan brush. After removing the contact paper, I used watercolor pencils to suggest bark on the tree trunks.

The final step was to scribble and stipple with a Micron 05 black pen.

Upcoming Classes & Workshops!

Celebrate Fall with a watercolor class or workshop! The fun starts this weekend with Painting Nature with Watercolor & Ink at the Franklin Recreation Center. Act soon if you’d like to join us on Saturday October 3 from 10 am – 2 pm. All supplies are included, and you can find all the details here:

https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/wcpr/activity/search/detail/49376

If you’re looking for weekly classes, join us on Tuesdays from 1 – 3 pm at the Franklin Recreation Center for Painting in Watercolor. This 4-week session starts on October 20, and you can learn more here:

https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/wcpr/activity/search/detail/49379

On Sunday November 1 you can enjoy Watercolor & Ink at the Little Art House at Sylvan Park. This workshop is great for beginning and intermediate students and meets from 1 – 5 pm. You can register here:

https://www.hisawyer.com/little-art-house/schedules/activity-set/2033136

Mystery Technique # 166

Curious about the techniques used here? You can learn more next month if you’ve signed up for email updates! 

ANSWER TO MYSTERY TECHNIQUE #165:

This was inspired by a series of memorable dreams, including several with transforming tigers. Mystery Technique #164 was part of the same painting, which started as an expressive wet-in-wet sky with a dreamlike atmosphere. I added the dream tiger and other images with watercolor pencils, varying the pressure to create lost-and-found edges and mimic the elusive nature of dreams.