Watercolor Gallery

About Watercolor Paintings

Watercolor paints, known traditionally as aquarelle in France, are a painting medium in which pigment is suspended in gum arabic, a wood product that increases viscosity when added to solutions. This is combined with varying degrees of water and applied to paper (or another surface) with a number of brush techniques to create watercolor paintings. This painting technique gives the artist maximum control over color transparency and quality and is prized for a "glowing" quality. Other components include glycerin, which softens the gum arabic, and a humectant---something that helps the paint stay moist.

Watercolor Painting Techniques

My watercolor style is described as "hard-edge" realism watercolor painting. I paint on Arches 140 lb. cold press watercolor paper. I paint with an assortment of different sized brushes but for most of my work I use a very small fine tip brush for detail work. I premix all my colors before putting paint on the paper.

I am very familiar with the rhythm of my painting style at this point. It's almost scientific. Every painting hits all the same stages and I have the same reactions, both frustrations and feelings of accomplishment every time. watercolor can be unforgiving with little margin for error. Now I can say: "I'm not going to get tripped up through this stage, because I know from experience that I can make it through."

When I paint with watercolors I have to think "light to dark". Any areas of the painting that are to be white or a very light color must be left unpainted throughout the painting process. I use washes to cover large areas and to build up the color of the background or underlying areas. Areas that are to be very dark require multiple layers or washes of color. Each small wash of color is left to dry before another is placed next to it. Once I am happy with the basic look I begin creating the finer details. After the detailing stage is finished I used a process called glazing to enrich and deepen the colors.

Your Images

As mentioned many times elsewhere in this site, I paint my portraits with the visual aid of reference photos that are either sent to me by filling out an Inquiry form, by attaching them to an email, or sent by regular mail if they are prints. Photo images sent to me can either be from a digital camera or can be scanned images from printed photos (high-resolution scans are best). It is imperative to send the absolute best picture of your pet that you can as I have only a photo to work from. The final outcome is more than anything else dependant upon that picture. Read about photos in the 'Photo Tips' section to find out more.

Work In Progress

Watch your painting evolve through each step in my blog where I display works in progress. I photography or scan your painting at various stages in the creation process and then upload the images there. Often I will describe the process in detail, add some of my own thoughts about the subject and maybe even suggest a few ideas that would make the piece really come together. You will be able to leave comments at every stage along the way and provide constructive insight for me with the goal of making your painting that best it can be. This is a very interactive and fun section of my website and you are encouraged to participate!

Framing Your Watercolor Artwork

They say that the best way to preserve a watercolor painting is in its preparation, coupled with the best materials and proper display/storage. Watercolor paintings are extremely delicate and certain steps must be taken to keep them in good condition. Before framing, it is best to mat the painting behind acid-free mat board. The mating serves to keep the surface of the drawing away from the surface of the glass which could cause damage if humidity accumulates on the glass due to atmospheric changes in temperature. When framing a watercolor painting under glass I only use UV-protective glass. In addition I place a sheet of brown wax paper the same size as the painting at the back of the painting in the frame. The brown paper protects the painting from contact with a wall that may be damp. Light and moisture are the two worse enemies of watercolor art.