LESSON #1 - Cosmos Painting

[dennis]

thegrindre, it is not a problem adding water to the dried out paint in the palette. Also been doing it for decades.

Lyndy. Sorry to hear you could log in - we had a server crash but come on short while later with a much larger server. The replays will only be available in a few days time.    It has to first be edited and then uploaded to the net. We will notify everyone when it is up on the watercolour section of the forum.

[Maryna]

Dennis  - I started the background and it looks really really  It came out all stripy - what am I doing wrong  I already took off the masking fluid, so no way going over it again? Unless I am really really carefull??

Might need to do a second one on this - and Cosmos is my fav flower

(Ps: this is actually how I found PB, googles cosmos and came across your tutorial  )

thanks

[Maryna]

I just destroyed it - will make a new one, forgot the leaves from under and over the masking fluid etc 
Still need to know about the stripy bit - to ensure I don't do it again.

[claude]

Copy and paste the two preceding messages and sign my name. I did the exact same thing. 

[claude]

What I intend to do is, before working on the real painting, practice on scraps of paper different backgrounds and THEN to attack my "real" painting. This waiting for Dennis to answer since it is 3:20 am in his upside-down world.

[dennis]

Claude from the down-side-up world. Also answer to Maryna's problems. If the background wash is too dry it will be too stripy because there is just not enough water to enable the pigment particles to float around easily enough.

One thing about watercolour is the skill in judging the amount of water on the paper. Certain effects require lots of water on the paper while others require that the surface must still have a very slight shine to it and others require the shine to just disappear. What this all means is that the pigment starts to become more controllable the less water there is.

Paradoxically, the less water the harder to control the pigment, such when there is not enough water to get the wet-in-wet effect I got in the cosmos background. Confusing? Don't worry I know how you feel - been there, done it and even got the Tshirt

There is no better way than experimenting for your self on scraps of paper and even on the back of spoiled paintings.
The evaporation rate of water is very dependent on temperature. Winter - a problem with taking too long (Hence the hair dryer). In summer - sometimes dries too fast - never a dull moment

Watercolour paints can be left to dry in the palette and can be used by re-wetting for the next session - one advantage over oils!

BTW the leaves can be added in any time - just have to be careful. Once masking fluid has been taken off it can be added on again no problem. Maybe nearer the end of the year I'll do an advanced painting where I add masking fluid over painted areas repeatedly - that's real fun because the end result is a surprise even to the painter

[Aylalake]

I too managed to get on in the end, and one of the best parts was seeing how you drew the petals alternately and then putting in the wavy "tops".  I can now draw cosmos!  Now to paint them!  I have also traced up my template and am ready to start applying paint to paper.

Thank you to Dennis and Nolan, and I've booked the next course. 

[eftpower1]

Like Lyndy, I could not watch either and am looking for the " instant reply"



P.S. Here is a link to a very simple  metric to non metric / non metric to metric converter

http://www.onlineconversion.com/length_common.htm

It's how I converted the mm's to inches  very e-z and simple.
B.

PPS Your going to edit the "show"?? bummer!!  That means that those of us who missed the live show are never going to know what "GOOD" parts we missed, 'cause the folks who did see them will NEVER TELL!

I sure don't want to miss the next one!

[nolan]

really sorry that you couldn't get in, I am working with the hosting guys to try ensure the website can handle the growth

[Gloria]

Replay only comes a few days later, has to be edited first. Dennis will advise by email when ready.

[Maryna]

Thanks Dennis, I will add more water and try again 

@Eftpower I don't think they take anything out, it is just a matter of Nolan adding the intro Paint Basket thingy, any subcomments etc, so doubt that you will miss anything. The camerawork was excellent, but you wait and see, don't wanna give it away   

[dennis]

About the editing: I'm sure you do not want to watch a static picture when we start recording with the cameras about 5-10 minutes before the time so that we do not miss out on the actual beginning of the "Show" as you call it, nor the ending as we continue recording to ensure we don't cut off the ending prematurely. Nor I'm sure you also don't want to spend the time watching Nolan struggling to get the change-over to a new server

No part of the actual lesson is ever edited out - just the non-essentials. This editing is absolutely essential in order for us to produce the best quality possible video for our members.

As an ex professional engineer I know how to  convert.
Glad you're with us and enjoy the rest of the Course.

[claude]

Actually Dennis is wrong. The watercolour replay is free, the "the time watching Nolan struggling to get the change-over to a new server " and going nuts will be on sale shortly for 6 easy payments of 49,95$ each.

[valweb]

  I can just see him sitting relaxed on his "nice" new chair clicking away...without any panic 

[claude]

Important update on the "cool" Nolan video. MGM has called, they will turn it into a major motion picture starring Rod Stewart as Nolan and Sean Connery as Dennis. Tom Cruise will play me because we look so much alike.