This week, I'll chat over "Show, don't tell." It is famous advice for writing. We know the difference between writing that involves the audience by showing what’s
happening in stories and simple telling/reporting information that holds the
reader back. I keep "Show, don't tell" as a guide for my art work.
Technically, this is my way to loose up work.
1. Value study of selected theme. One topic per work.
2. Simple drawing. Lines are the fewer, the better.
3. Colour use, as above. Limited palette. Play up contrast and play with paints/water.
NOTE: If you're confident to use many colours, go for it! The point is how to handle value with colours.
4. Quick brush strokes, the fewer, the better = enjoy washes.
5. Play with water and paints. Use "plenty" of water.
Below, when I started sketching the busker at market, I thought, "Wooops, did I make a too strong contrast and a too thick colour?" But it went not bad! The player's face expression was my main interest. His fingers and body movement were my second interest. I sang and danced together with the band, while sketching!
In my view, the beauty of a loose up watercolour style is the beauty of omission that comes from ambiguity created in soft edges. Technically, in order to loose up work, an artist is very selective of visual information. I choose one topic/interesting thing and omit or
delete a rest of others in sketch and work. Too busy information never works for a loose style. When I wonder if I should put more or not, I stop brushes. It's hard and a great temptaion, but I try not to do overwork. The simpler, the better. No trick. (*I hope even little kids understand my work!) Brush strokes and colour use are the fewer,
the better. Value study is the key for a successful loose up style. When I get stuck, I always sketch in black and white and check my value.
Below, my sketches of other buskers in the band.
That's enough for my painting. You'll find very a few lines. I always sketch only necessary points. Later, the band members said, 'Wow, it's me!" "Hey, that's you!" and we had a cheerful laugh together. Nice! Having fun is very important for happy watercolour!
Interestingly, once, my Mentor
Ann James said, "You're a painter, rather than a drawer." I think she understands my playing with colour paints in water and her say implies I put on weigh on paints more than lines in watercolour painting. Also, I've realised that my eye remembers value and does correct drawing mistakes in colour painting! Does it make sense? My colour use and value compensates my drawing mistakes and amends drawings. Yes, my brush strokes fix drawing lines. So, I do not care drawing mistakes and move on colour asap, before a subject has gone out of my sight. A work results in freshness, my most strength.
I also assume a loose watercolour style provokes viewers imagination and involves viewers like "Show, don't tell" suggests. When I play up one interesting topic, I leave work to readers imagination. We know when artists tap viewers imagination, work will become
rich than simple facts. When artists try hard to "explain" about something in art work,
art work results in very poor and not so interesting nor touchy.
Tips for Loose Up Watercolour = Show, Don't Tell
