How does it work...?

Hi David....Salisbury? Wow! You sound to be taking something on there! If you are only just starting with watercolour it sounds a mighty hard subject. Do you think it might be more profitable to start with something simple? I could be wrong as I do not know how experienced you are with other media, but yes, I think you can post Work in Progress here and get lots of advice from members. It's a lovely medium to use.

HI David...For a start I would say Don't try layering paint upon paint...I would say lay one wash down and then leave it. Too much can paint produce a muddy effect. Try to keep as much white paper as you can showing through. Do post your work and ask for advice though. Usually you will find that you get a lot of constructive help...We all have the same problems at one time or another......and I must admit, we don't always solve it either! Watercolour is an elusive medium and has a load of tricks up its sleeve!! Good luck and keep on persevering, it's great when it all comes together.

In reply to your question: you can post your works in progress on the Forum in a new subject heading which you'll find at the bottom of the page. And I wish you would, because I've monopolized it so far - there was a clamour to introduce it, and then when it was introduced I've been the only one to use it (at least for its intended purpose). The subject heading is indeed Work in Progress, known to us all as WIPS. Ruth is right about layering paint - if that's what you want to do, acrylic would be a better bet (or gouache; or oil). On the whole, the fewer washes you lay down in watercolour the better: rather than adding greys on top of previously applied paint, mix the greys (or blues or purples for the distance) and apply them as discrete washes. You can add washes over washes in watercolour - some call that glazing, a term that's perhaps more usual in acrylic or oil - but have to be very careful not to disturb the paint beneath (which is difficult) because if you do you won't get a clean glaze but a patch of unlovely mud. This is a technique for the more advanced painter, and something to practise on a sheet of scrap paper until you feel some confidence in achieving it. It doesn't matter how awful you think your efforts are - show them anyway because then we can see where you might be going wrong: it's always much easier to understand the problem if you can see it in action rather than have it described to you. I realize it takes a bit of nerve to do it, but we've all had to start somewhere, and most of us haven't forgotten the struggles we had, so won't be judging yours harshly.

Hi David, I'd love to see your painting grow as a WIP. I've never been to the Salisbury area so your view of it may prove a place to take the tent to for a little inspirational weekend away when the weather gets a little warmer.