Thanks Rick for another terrific informative lesson. I swear I’ve learned more from your videos than anybody else I’ve watched. I especially appreciate the detailed explanations that you give.
The white in this one contrasted with the darkest darks really makes this floral, as with your others ,sparkle in the visual sunlight.It shows the importance of values along with use of negative space.
Excellent observations and comments ! For me, if you understand the importance of value and can see negative space, your on a good path, in any medium.
thanks for another well described video. great lesson. Fascinating to watch you move around the painting, slowly developing the image in delicate layers, without overworking an area.
This would be so much fun to do if I knew what I was doing :) . I love how the colors flow and suddenly leaves, flowers and shadows appear. I am going to try, but I do not expect it to be this pretty. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Great painting as always. Beautiful atmosphere in it! Your videos are very informative. I like hearing your thoughts and reasons behind your brushstrokes. Thank you so much! Learning a lot from you!
Your dots and dashes are great - teaching tools -- I am trying negative spaces in my paintings - I think I am getting there - keep going back and I can see how it improves the work
When you can make a habit of looking beyond a flower to see the foliage or past the barn to see the woods, it will open many new opportunities in your paintings.
more I see more I understand negative painting great teacher I love it now its time for me to try I just wish I could have the same sketch as you it will be more easy to follow thank you
I have sooo much to learn, your beginner instruction helps me lots. Love your style, trying to find mine, I like the loose look to painting. Plan to try this soon
I use a hair dryer frequently to dry my paper while painting. Whenever an area is too wet for me to make the brush stroke I want or if it is at risk of backwashing, I dry it thoroughly with a hair dryer. It doesn't make any difference in the finished painting. It doesn't matter if I've used making fluid either.
Wahou que c’est beau, très intéressant à regarder, j’aime cette technique qui suggère avec les contrastes et les flous. Le résultat final est splendide. J’aimerais vraiment apprendre à peindre ainsi. Merci pour le partage et les explications. Mon anglais est très mauvais je ne comprends pas tout ce que vous dites mais l’image est très parlante et vos vidéos sont toujours très bien faites. Merci.
Rick Surowicz Watercolor my neck of the woods is covered in ice this morning. The only thing I really miss from my home is my studio. Painting here on a countertop, but still painting and learning..Have a great day!
That was very enjoyable Rick! I'm nervous about trying this style myself but there is a poinsettia plant pleading with me so I might try. I have a feeling that the spray bottle will dilute too much of the value I put down. How did you ensure that softening the leaves on the edge of the vase wouldn't also colour the white vase itself? Simply by the direction of the spraying?
Thanks Barbara! I hope you give it a try. If your spray dilutes your wash too much, you haven't lost anything. Just dry your paper and put on another layer. You can always go darker...it's hard to go lighter. I try to spray away from any areas that I don't want the color. If it gets on it, I still have time to lift it by blotting with a tissue.
Stupendo! Anche se parli in inglese e i sottotitoli sono in inglese, perché io sono italiana e sorda, si capisce benissimo il tuo favoloso video !!!! Mi piacerebbe anche vedere tavolozza colori e acqua mentre dipingi!!!
This is a challenging exercise. I’ve just begun to explore this more fluid style. It really takes advantage of the magic of watercolor. I think my most fundamental issue is trying to envision the placement of negative brush strokes. I’m trying to notice the negative space in the world around me to get a feel for it. Do you have any suggestions for practices that might help develop this ability? I’d also like to say that I love quinacridone colors. I use M Graham and have thus far fairly limited colors. When you say you’re painting from the palette do you mean that you are pulling paint from the palette as opposed to mixing as you go on the paper? Thanks so much for this great tutorial. You’re explanations as you go are really helpful.
It's great that your challenging yourself to try a different approach! It's the only way we can learn and develop... a cycle that never stops. You have an awareness about negative space and that's a great start. As far as exercises, I'll have to think about that. I will say, I think it's easier to experiment with simple organic shapes such as leaves, foliage, a pile of garage sales items, tack in a barn. Simple shapes and subjects that have lots of overlapping edges. Do a simple drawing and try to describe what's on the top layer by painting the second and third layer with a middle value. Use a darker value next on the third layer to describe the second layer. You should be more interested in the shapes being formed by the overlapping edges not the objects themselves. When I say using the paint straight off my palette, I'm pretty much just mixing the color with water and using the tube color. I don't do that often.
Rick Surowicz Watercolor Thank you. I think I’ll try the exercises you described this coming week in my practice journal after I watch this video again.
That is a beautiful painting. Your a master artist and instructor. I know one day we will probably lose your teaching lessons as you become more famous with your paintings and it will be your earned success but our great loss.
Hi MaryAnne, Royal Blue is Holbein's version of the pigment PB60. Other manufacturers call it Indanthrone blue, Indantherene blue, and Delft Blue. They are all PB60. Daniel Smith's is Indanthrone blue.
Interesting how you chose to reverse from positive to negative painting on the railings. You just seem to know what works. I guess that comes with mileage on the brush.
Thanks for commenting on that Mary. You can get a nice transition using that approach. I'll do that on some of my florals. I' like to lift linear grassy shapes toward the end of my painting. What I do is drag a damp brush through a dark tone. When I do that, it lifts some color from the dark value area and drags the lifted paint into a light value area. The linear mark goes from light to dark as a result.
Should that lifting be done before that area gets too dry? I know some paints/colours are harder to lift than others. As well, some talk about using a hog bristle brush for lifting, but that can damage the paper I think.
I'm fairly new to watercolor, and I'm just learning about negative painting. Your videos are so helpful. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
Tks for shared and learning. 👏🏻
Thanks Rick for another terrific informative lesson. I swear I’ve learned more from your videos than anybody else I’ve watched. I especially appreciate the detailed explanations that you give.
Thanks Vivian ! I appreciate that ...very glad you're finding information that's useful to you.
The white in this one contrasted with the darkest darks really makes this floral, as with your others ,sparkle in the visual sunlight.It shows the importance of values along with use of negative space.
Excellent observations and comments ! For me, if you understand the importance of value and can see negative space, your on a good path, in any medium.
Rick, your work is mesmirizing. Thank you so much for posting these videos. Each one is a chock full of learning and I'm grateful for your effort.
Thanks for the wonderful comments !!!
Your work is amazing Rick, and I love to follow your demonstrations.
Christine
Thank you for letting me know Christine ! I'm glad you enjoy my videos!
You are so kind and now I can proceed and try to paint a negative painting similar to this flowerpot, using this negative painting technique.
Hope you have fun with it !
thanks for another well described video. great lesson. Fascinating to watch you move around the painting, slowly developing the image in delicate layers, without overworking an area.
Appreciate the great comments Silvia !!!
This would be so much fun to do if I knew what I was doing :) . I love how the colors flow and suddenly leaves, flowers and shadows appear. I am going to try, but I do not expect it to be this pretty. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
If you paint to learn the pretty will come! I learn from every painting I do.
Great details, they just keep getting better. Thanks for the reference drawing, helps me see what you used.
Appreciate the comments Liz !!! Thanks !
Great painting as always. Beautiful atmosphere in it! Your videos are very informative. I like hearing your thoughts and reasons behind your brushstrokes. Thank you so much! Learning a lot from you!
Glad you shared your thoughts! Super that you're learning some things !
I really enjoy your style. I used my own photo reference but your technique to paint the poinsettias at Christmas. Thank you!
Thank you Lisa ! That's great you gave this approach a try !
Your dots and dashes are great - teaching tools -- I am trying negative spaces in my paintings - I think I am getting there - keep going back and I can see how it improves the work
When you can make a habit of looking beyond a flower to see the foliage or past the barn to see the woods, it will open many new opportunities in your paintings.
Thanks Rick,Love how you use the mist bottle to let the colors bleed.Im going to do more of that!
Thanks Sandy !
This just so pretty............I love the way you do watercolor.
Thanks DeLila ! I appreciate that !
more I see more I understand negative painting great teacher I love it now its time for me to try I just wish I could have the same sketch as you it will be more easy to follow thank you
Thank you ! You can download the sketch from the video page of my website and print it. Here is the link: rsurowiczart.com/videos/
I love your work I love the way you teach I'm going to give it a try . Thank you
Thanks Janet ! Have fun with your painting.
Beautiful !!
Thanks for sharing .
Thank you !
I have sooo much to learn, your beginner instruction helps me lots. Love your style, trying to find mine, I like the loose look to painting. Plan to try this soon
That's great ! Have fun with your painting efforts !
I have a question, do you let the watercolour dry naturally or use a hair dryer, does It matter in finished painting. thank you. Joy
I use a hair dryer frequently to dry my paper while painting. Whenever an area is too wet for me to make the brush stroke I want or if it is at risk of backwashing, I dry it thoroughly with a hair dryer. It doesn't make any difference in the finished painting. It doesn't matter if I've used making fluid either.
thank you
Wahou que c’est beau, très intéressant à regarder, j’aime cette technique qui suggère avec les contrastes et les flous. Le résultat final est splendide. J’aimerais vraiment apprendre à peindre ainsi. Merci pour le partage et les explications. Mon anglais est très mauvais je ne comprends pas tout ce que vous dites mais l’image est très parlante et vos vidéos sont toujours très bien faites. Merci.
Thank you for sharing your observations and comments ! I'm glad you like my videos.
Another great one Rick. Been learning a lot from your vids, thanks.
Thanks! That's great !
Another great lesson. I am going to try this painting when I return home! I love your teaching methods!
Thanks Marcia ! You're probably not missing the snow that hit this morning !!!
Rick Surowicz Watercolor my neck of the woods is covered in ice this morning. The only thing I really miss from my home is my studio.
Painting here on a countertop, but still painting and learning..Have a great day!
Beautiful work of art Sir... 👍
Thank you Selvan !
you make negative painting look easy- it's still a challenge for me but this video helps!
Just keep at it and you'll get it ! Glad this is helpful.
That was very enjoyable Rick! I'm nervous about trying this style myself but there is a poinsettia plant pleading with me so I might try. I have a feeling that the spray bottle will dilute too much of the value I put down. How did you ensure that softening the leaves on the edge of the vase wouldn't also colour the white vase itself? Simply by the direction of the spraying?
Thanks Barbara! I hope you give it a try. If your spray dilutes your wash too much, you haven't lost anything. Just dry your paper and put on another layer. You can always go darker...it's hard to go lighter. I try to spray away from any areas that I don't want the color. If it gets on it, I still have time to lift it by blotting with a tissue.
Well,it went well for a while then I lost control of where the spray went.
It's good that you're experimenting !
Stupendo!
Anche se parli in inglese e i sottotitoli sono in inglese, perché io sono italiana e sorda, si capisce benissimo il tuo favoloso video !!!!
Mi piacerebbe anche vedere tavolozza colori e acqua mentre dipingi!!!
Thank you Flavia !
This is a challenging exercise. I’ve just begun to explore this more fluid style. It really takes advantage of the magic of watercolor. I think my most fundamental issue is trying to envision the placement of negative brush strokes. I’m trying to notice the negative space in the world around me to get a feel for it. Do you have any suggestions for practices that might help develop this ability? I’d also like to say that I love quinacridone colors. I use M Graham and have thus far fairly limited colors.
When you say you’re painting from the palette do you mean that you are pulling paint from the palette as opposed to mixing as you go on the paper? Thanks so much for this great tutorial. You’re explanations as you go are really helpful.
It's great that your challenging yourself to try a different approach! It's the only way we can learn and develop... a cycle that never stops. You have an awareness about negative space and that's a great start. As far as exercises, I'll have to think about that. I will say, I think it's easier to experiment with simple organic shapes such as leaves, foliage, a pile of garage sales items, tack in a barn. Simple shapes and subjects that have lots of overlapping edges. Do a simple drawing and try to describe what's on the top layer by painting the second and third layer with a middle value. Use a darker value next on the third layer to describe the second layer. You should be more interested in the shapes being formed by the overlapping edges not the objects themselves. When I say using the paint straight off my palette, I'm pretty much just mixing the color with water and using the tube color. I don't do that often.
Rick Surowicz Watercolor Thank you. I think I’ll try the exercises you described this coming week in my practice journal after I watch this video again.
Bonjour, j'aime beaucoup ! But négative painting is too difficult for me. Bravo ! Bonne journée
Thank you !
That is a beautiful painting. Your a master artist and instructor. I know one day we will probably lose your teaching lessons as you become more famous with your paintings and it will be your earned success but our great loss.
Thanks Parker !
Lostmyreply on royal blue pigment using Daniel smith
Hi MaryAnne, Royal Blue is Holbein's version of the pigment PB60. Other manufacturers call it Indanthrone blue, Indantherene blue, and Delft Blue. They are all PB60. Daniel Smith's is Indanthrone blue.
Rick Surowicz Watercolor thank you for your help. I really enjoy your loose but confinment in some areas. Your teaching is superb. Thank you
Thank you !
Interesting how you chose to reverse from positive to negative painting on the railings. You just seem to know what works. I guess that comes with mileage on the brush.
Thanks for commenting on that Mary. You can get a nice transition using that approach. I'll do that on some of my florals. I' like to lift linear grassy shapes toward the end of my painting. What I do is drag a damp brush through a dark tone. When I do that, it lifts some color from the dark value area and drags the lifted paint into a light value area. The linear mark goes from light to dark as a result.
Should that lifting be done before that area gets too dry? I know some paints/colours are harder to lift than others. As well, some talk about using a hog bristle brush for lifting, but that can damage the paper I think.
The point that I do it my painting is completely dry. I use a nylon flat brush