Erase is possible in watercolor, within the first few seconds and when it is wet enough. I know I should not encourage this "trick", because I am a big believer in focus on doing it right without fixing it later. But I cannot deny there are times I took the wet paint out so I can give myself a second chance to make it right.
Read MoreMadison Ave, NYC 10x20
I painted this New York street scene the other day. It's been 13 years since I visit that city. Last(and the only) time I was there, I didn't enjoy it that much for various reason. Mostly because I didn't develop the eyes that can see the potential of what's in front of me. The city is filled with beautiful architecture, light and shadow shapes, dramatic scale reference and more! But I was too focus on what I wanted to see back then. My mind is already full and I didn't leave any room for new inspiration!
Read More
Hollywood Blvd - 16 x 11
To be successful at anything, good planning is required. Watercolor painting is no exception. If you approach a painting with little to no thinking and planning, it will likely end up a mess. Even if the painting turns out alright, that's mostly due to happy accident, and we should not rely on that. Watercolor is one of the most unpredictable medium there is. Don't make it harder by start a painting mindlessly and hoping it will turn out good.
So what are we planning? We are planning for the order of things. Painting is quite like cooking (and I love cooking). You prepare your ingredient and your cookware, and you do things step by step. A good recipe usually have things layout nicely for you to follow. It has the list of ingredient, what do you do each step, and what do you expect in result. The result can still vary depend on your cooking experience and how closely are you following the recipe. But now you have a goal to achieve and a direction to get there. It is the same for painting. But instead of following the recipe from someone else, you have to create one for yourself each painting. Really think about how you want to achieve a certain look before you start painting!
My latest painting "Hollywood Blvd" was carefully thought out before I start. The building on the right is brightly lit by the sunlight, so I knew I have to keep it white before I started. I also knew the trees has to be connected, so I was able to control the timing and paint them in one wash. I knew things in the distance have to be pushed back, so they need to be done during the second wash only. I planned all these out when I was still drawing. This is why I mentioned not to skip your drawing. Drawing is a perfect time for you to plan out your painting strategy. Ask yourself-
I wager that if you planned out your painting before you start, you will have less chance of wanting to fix your painting. I see far too many people trying to focus on specific technique in painting instead of creating the whole picture. At the end of the day, it's all about the whole picture. If your painting is not well thought out, and you only focusing on painting technique, your whole painting can fall apart. A good painting should be well thought out and execute in confidence, with good technique to support it.
It's been a while since my last painting video. I'm happy to share with you a new one. This is a rare occasion where I do a portrait painting demo!
Betty and I back in 2007
Let's dive a little bit deeper on what does it mean to have a meaningful relationship.I t's worth noting that not every long term relationship is equal. I see it many times from relationship or skill development alike. Nothing is more frustrated than knowing you spend countless hours with little to no result. While I do believe natural talent is a small factor, it's far from being a major role. I have a few tips that can hopefully shed some light on this subject.
Read More
