LESSON #7 - How to Paint Clouds

[Kathysutterlin]

Would a different paper make a difference? If so, which one?

[thebryce]

The paper and grain does matter
when you are fairly new at water color.

The Strathmore red spiral has great sizing and a different texture; It is my favorite box store WC paper. It can be scrubbed with a brillo pad almost and still be repainted on; Amazing stuff.

The brown Strathmore 400 paper is not bad.

The yellow Strathmore 300 pad is weird. The yellow pad paper is almost water resistant at times; it has an odd quality that one must get use to. The grain is odd too.

Arches blocks seem to be the hot item now days but I would never pay the price for a block.  I would just go purchase  300 pound water color paper by the sheet and enjoy a better paper overall.

For the clouds lesson I used Canson the 300 gsm blue pad and was not pleased with the results.


Canson paper is the most inexpensive paper I have found. Available at Walmart,  and holds up the worst under a wet on wet painting. It is very smooth paper but not as smooth as bristol paper.


 There are no errors allowed on the Canson WC paper.


Canson is great for pen and pencil when bristol is not available.

Canson makes good paper for other things but they fail in the WC department in my book, as a beginner.

Fabriano is supposed to be good paper but I have not tried it and they have several grades as well.


The USA Hobbie Lobby WC paper has a horizontal grain that is weird. The paper is very touchy and you better not try to fix any errors on it by scrubbing or it will  tear.

[Kathysutterlin]

     Bryce! I am going to go to the store today and get a different paper. You are exactly right about the Strathmore Yellow. For the wet on wet, it was resistant to allowing the watercolor to flow and spread. I got very weird blotchy results.

I will post again after I get my new paper. 

[Kathysutterlin]

  What an unbelievable difference it makes using the right watercolor paper. Bryce, you have no idea how much I appreciate your leading me to the right paper. I bought the Strathmore red series. The texture of this paper was so much more agreeable to work with.   

I do have a LOT to learn about painting clouds but this 4th attempt has me more optimistic. As Dennis said earlier today, it is by our struggles and mistakes that we really learn and grow. I welcome any suggestions for improvement. Good night, my dear PB friends. 

Details

[MaryAnne Long]

Oh, yes, Kathy.  Big improvement. Finding success like that makes it so motivating to want to paint all the more.

aloha

mea

[thebryce]

I love the clouds.  The entire painting seems to have come together nicely. 


 That Strathmore Red Windpower series is good stuff. Wait until you start using masking fluid on it. The masking fluid stays right where you want it and wont tear off when it is time to peel it away.  Techniques that require lifting are a breeze with that paper as well.


Next on your list will be highly pigmented water color paint; Professional grade.


For me, I still use the left over three year old beginner paint I originally purchased at Walmart but I have begun to mix in a tube or two of the really good stuff.


 When I botch a painting with the poor pigmented paint I end up being forced to use cheap Gouache to cover up the errors.   When I add up the the two low quality student grade paints I know in hind site that I could have purchased a few tubes of the good stuff, but what did I know back then? I never thought I would become an addict to drawing and painting. 


I have yet to do a review of the really good paint because I can't afford to purchase enough brands to rate them yet.  Oh, then there are the brushes....

[Kathysutterlin]

  for the kudos, Bryce. The painting did come together after all, with your help. 

Having the correct tools to work with is everything! I agree about the paint. I have mostly Winsor Newman's Cotman which is a level 2 grade. As I use up my colors, I am replacing with artist grade.

I inherited a bunch of my Mom's art supplies so I have quite a collection of brushes. Some are very nice. I just don't know what to do with them yet.  In due time!

[Happychappy]

    Kathy your painting turned out beautifully. Very well done.


    Bryce for all the wonderful information on what papers to use. In fact, I was experimenting with mixed media paper this weekend as an alternative to hot pressed paper which is sooooo expensive and it was horrible.  Do you perhaps know of a cheaper alternative to use in place of the hot pressed paper? I just find that to pay such high prices for paper when we are practising is a true waste of money. I also found that the mixed media paper was a bit rough for graphite too.   Patricia

[thebryce]

What if you broke down and bought a paper stretcher or just started stretching paper?


The other option for me for practice only,  I will from time to time break down and use the Canson 300gsm 140 lbs Blue Pad Water paper or the Michael's brand paper.


 I know i  said that it is not the best paper but it is so inexpensive that I will use it for stuff I know I  wont care if I ruin or for stuff that I am sure I can tackle on any paper surface.  I go to Walmart or Hobby Lobby and use my 40% coupon.  It is better in my mind than the Canson Mixed Media pad.


The better WC paint will flow with less water so sometimes the cheap paper can be fought through.  Sadly, I want to paint every day and never get to because of life issues, so I just keep doodling.     

[Kathysutterlin]

  Kathy your painting turned out beautifully. Very well done.

Thank you, Patricia 

[Happychappy]

   Bryce for your message and I do use Canson 300g watercolor paper for most of my paintings but I was trying out some botanical paintings and you do need the hot pressed paper which is smoother for the fine detail. Anyway, I shall plod along and experiment and hopefully, I will find a cheaper alternative. Would love to see some of your paintings but I understand how much life can get in the way of our hobbies.


Patricia

[Steve Weatherwax]

Good job, Kathy. I don't know how I missed your posting. Must've fallen asleep at the switch. Sorry for the tardy reply.

[Kathysutterlin]

  Thank you, Steve! It was one of the toughest lessons I've done ( other than perspectives  ) . It was worth the struggle though because I learned a lot! 

[Straynative]

Nice Kath, I found that lesson really tough, good job!

[Kathysutterlin]

Nice Kath, I found that lesson really tough, good job!

  Thanks Trev. I found it to be tough too.