Thank you for your report!
We have received your report and it is currently under investigation by a forum moderator.
Arnold Lowrey - how does he do it?
Welcome to the forum.
Here you can discuss all things art with like-minded artists, join regular painting challenges, ask questions, buy and sell art materials and much more.
Make sure you sign in or register to join the discussions.
Hang on Studio Wall
This is a Studio member-only feature!
Join our Studio membership and save your favourite Painters Online content, from gallery artwork to step-by-step guides, to your own online mood boards. Create your go-to place for inspiration and learning. Plus, members can also enjoy a range of exciting features including monthly art videos and a digital magazine library.
If you are already a Studio member, simply login to your account.
Not a Studio member? Why not try our free 30-day trial - no commitment, no credit card required
Message
Posted
Hi All
I've recently discovered the work of Arnold Lowrey, someone I know most of you will be aware of. What most appeals to me is the looseness of his style and of course he makes it look so effortless.
There is a YouTube video of him painting a scene of Venice and you can see it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpjAtLRVf6E
In this first part of the painting he is doing the sky with numerous colours, building up the layers but still retaining the luminosity. For each colour he "rings our his brush, and picks up once" (as he describes it) and paints the next colour to mix it on paper with the other colours.
What amazes me is his ability to keep the paper wet (hen mentions you can keep doing this so long as you keep the paper wet).and not getting any backruns. I tried having a go on some Winsor & Newton paper that was slightly smaller in size to what Arnold is using and I just couldn't keep the paint wet all over and of course I start to panic and put wet paint on drying paint and well...you know what happens next :)
The paper he uses is large, looks large and smooth and also doesn't seem to buckle.
How is this magic happening before my very eye's? Can anyone explain his technique and why it is working for him?
Any advice would be gratefully received.
Posted
The only way to keep any paper wet is to soak it - not necessarily in the bath, but to lay down enough water: the type of paper used will dictate how much water to use: some will absorb it and dry out fairly quickly, others will stay wet for longer.... both Bockingford and Fabriano seem to stay wet for long periods (sometimes for frustratingly long periods) while Arches repels water or at least doesn't get sodden; it's a cotton rag paper, though, which is probably the reason why, that and the sizing.
I think the boy we want here is Alan Owen, or maybe Arnold himself (I too have marvelled at his demonstrations on YouTube and elsewhere - he also has DVDs for sale) - I don't work on the same sort of scale as Lowrey, or anything like as often with watercolour. If you use a lot of water, of course, you also need a lot of colour - or you get washed-out watercolours, which used to be so common in exhibitions of leisure painters' work; these days, I think more and more people are understanding that watercolour doesn't have to be pale and insipid, in part thanks to Arnold Lowrey.
As to how you do it, as with almost everything else (maybe short of nuclear physics) the answer is - practice.
http://www.isleofwightlandscapes.net
http://www.wightpaint.blogspot.co.uk