The gift recipient's lovely new home!
The paper comes in a stack of 20 sheets, glued together on all four sides so they stay in place as you paint. Silly me, thought that it would also prevent warping as I wet the paper. One light wash of color let me know that was not the case. It immediately started to bubble up and the paint began to pool. So, I removed the paper from the pad and placed it into a few inches of cold water in the bathtub. I pushed it under the surface of the water to ensure it was evenly wet. I let it sit for around four minutes. Once I took it out, I laid it flat onto a board and taped all of the edges down and let it dry overnight. It was so worth it - the next morning as I worked there was no bubbling as I worked.
I started with a light wash of color.
Then I pulled out the liquid mask that I've been dying to use! I masked the fence, the flowers on the tree, the drainage pipes and lines to suggest siding.
The white picket fence has been masked off.
I also masked the white posts of the front porch.
Then, I applied a blue wash to the sky and pulled the paint off with a bunched up paper towel to begin forming clouds. I really liked the effect but I wanted a darker sky to contrast the light house to make it "pop" out of the picture a bit.
More clouds, same paper towel technique to lift the paint.
I finally starting breathing some much needed life into the painting by adding color.
More work on the roof, gutters and trim.
Now it's starting to take shape.
I decided I needed a darker sky to help the house pop off the page. I taped off the roof to protect any work I had done there. I ended up painting several layers on the sky before I was happy. I knew I had to get it right before removing the tape and moving on.
Close up of the tape. I had to cut the tape in some places to get the angles right.
I also taped off the porch so I could freely paint the sky in the background.
My second or third try at the sky. Looking pretty stormy and gray here. I liked the clouds, but they didn't seem to belong in this photo.
I messed with the clouds to soften them up a bit and finished with a bright blue wash over the entire sky to make it a bit less gray and dreary. Then, I removed the tape (which also removed any of the liquid mask that was under it so beware of repeating my mistake) and began working on the windows.
A gentle rub with a finger removed any mask. I then used paint to better define these areas, adding shadows and/or highlights as needed.
I began dabbing white watercolor onto the flowers where I imagined petals might exist. As the white paint dried it became very translucent creating light, delicate looking petals outside the edge of each flower. I really love this effect.
I added the pine trees, shrubbery and worked on the grass a bit.
Now I just added a few finishing touches as necessary. I painted highlights on the fence (keeping the light source in mind.) Then, I signed it!smile emoticon Phew, all done!
Side note: As I was taking pictures of my progress, I discovered that I liked the painting best from this angle.
Side note: As I was taking pictures of my progress, I discovered that I liked the painting best from this angle.
My favorite part of the painting! I didn't paint this in the technique I had originally planned. Instead, I took a scrap piece of paper and used a square brush and put down two strokes of paint, creating a single leaf. I repeated a few more in a branch-like pattern and loved the result enough to give it a go. I'm glad I did!
Side-by-side comparison: As you can see, I took some artistic liberties because of the time constraint. I had sketched in the trees in the background, but in order to meet the strict deadline, I omitted them entirely. I think it works though - without looking at them side by side, you'd never know they were missing. At least I think I pulled it off. LOL You tell me!
