Own Your Encore

On a rainy day the large bright bill of the male Surf Scoter deserves attention. Is that Pyrrole Orange (top) or Transparent Orange? Pyrrole Orange [Daniel Smith PO73] wins. unforgettable semi-transparent/semi-opaque orange is a smooth, saturated and pure addition to the watercolorist’s palette.  Daniel Smith Pyrrole is an organic compound that defines the ingredients and…

With four lessons on the components of a watercolor seascape now on my palette approaching the water will be a bit more organized. I look forward to hitting the beach with my new skills! Clouds. Waves. Sand. Horizon. All of the sketches in this class are from photographs. No use of masking fluid when making…

When it comes to green many artists like to mix their own, but there is always room for Sap Green. Sap green is a lake pigment and was originally made from the juice of unripe berries from the buckthorn, (Rhamnus) plant. In medieval times the extracted colour was reduced to a heavy syrup and sold in…

Cadmium Scarlet is a warm red, meaning it leans toward orange. Cadmium colors are opaque and that makes this color excellent for demonstrating how to create a strong ‘shadow in bright sun’ . First fire hydrant is painted with a wash of cadmium scarlet. Next, to show the shadow on the hydrant Permanent Alzarian Crimson…