Verigated Wash

Similar to the flat or gradated wash in application the dirrerence being you use two or more colours in the wash

Variegated washes should be applied quickly using the method

that is used for gradated  or flat washes

This should done wet on wet so they meld into one another as one.

I took this photograph of a house at the Portsea end of the Mornington Peninsular

I drew a small thumbnail sketch to decide the composition

The  the house was to be the center of interest.

When I was satisfied with the drawing I gave it some tonal values to indicate the light direction.

Then on a small piece of watercolour paper 25cm x 15 cm I lightly drew the basic outlines of the house

 I masked out the area’s that I wanted

to remain a light value,

I wet the paper and applied mid values of warm and cool colours over the entire sheet.

In the lower quadrant I applied some rock salt.

I allowed the colours to fuse together.

Then waited patiently for it to

When dry I removed the masking fluid and salt.

Then I applied masking to save the cracks in the fence

I applied cool washes to the sides of the house in shadows, and warm washes that were receiving reflected light from the garden.

when describing the planes of the roof

I made these values to dark but knew I could lift and adjust colour later.

After painting the fence, It was time to establish some of the shadows before I completed the foliage.

Note that the fence on the right was receiving quite a lot of reflected light

For the sake of the composition I brought the trees closer to the house to give the feel that the house was nestled among the trees, which is how it appeared from the road.

See below a larger version of this very small picture 

 This picture is a series of verigated washes within hard edges

This page is designed for people people with little or no knowledge of watercolour

Introduction

Gaining knowledge and skill in the use of watercolour is a lifetimes journey, the enjoyment and rewards of this medium more than repay your efforts. The temptation to rush through the process must be avoided as it as caused many a beginner to give up. This watercolour course is based on the simplified method that I have gradually developed over many years of teaching art. Although it contains what you will find in any good art book on the subject, it is broken down into bite size pieces. For example you will only be introduced to one type of watercolour paper at the beginning, this will enable you to have a through understanding of that paper before moving on to another. Dealing with and mastering one aspect at a time is by far the best approach.

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