Advancing with Watercolor: The Dordogne - Using Brushstrokes

Julia Child

Introduction

Traveling to new places holds excitement for the artist. Finding a new source for our painting and building our watercolor vocabulary to reflect the intangible qualities of sound, smell atmosphere,  into the painting. Some views are breathtaking and seemingly impossible to depict, such a vast distance between us and our subject. In this painting we will find ways to communicate the depth of field while still preserving a focal point.

Today we are looking across the Dordogne Valley from the hilltop village of Domme in southern France. The qualities of space and depth impress me from the wall at Domme and I recall similar experiences from these high view points looking out over a vast expanse. The city of Florence from the terrace of Michelangelo or the Grand Canyon from the south rim.

Immediately the thought of painting this view starts to rise and then the  problem solving begins

How to create this breathtaking vista with only paper and paint? We have seen it done before in the works of Bierstadt, Turner and many others.

This workshop is a presentation of the problems and some solutions

Skills we practice with watercolor

Graded washes

Patterns

Soft and hard edges

And using brushstrokes to convey our subject

Challenges

Simplifying the complexity 

Creating depth

Creating Patterns with Brushwork

The Drill  - Brush strokes

The artist exercises constantly with the brush to align themself with the character and potential of the brush so that the marks come freely - in harmony with the artists will and intent. Brushes are made by artisans and kept for a lifetime and when used regularly they become an extension of the artists inner being.