Alpine Meadow

Watercolor, 10" by 8" on gessoed Foamcore. Painted from rsource 2 for workshop 46. The gesso is from QOR (Golden) and is not as absorbent as WC cold press paper, but much more so than Yupo. 2 coats of the QOR gesso for watercolors in vertical and horizontal directions gives a fine linen like surface. It is much easier to pull out color than cold press watercolor paper (tree trunk on large tree), but impossible to completely erase even very light pencil marks.

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Comment by Stuart J. Gourlay on September 30, 2015 at 6:56: Thanks Rajesh! I have not tried aqua board. For a long time I have made many of my own panels for plein air oils. I am just getting a real start in working in watercolor and trying different methods and materials to find my a zone of comfort. I will give Aqua board a try soon and try some different surfaces coated with the watercolor gesso. Foamcore tends to buckle a bit, even if you gesso both sides. I suspect 1/8" hardboard (MDF) will be a more suitable substrate. Illustration board may also work.

Comment by Rajesh K Sharma on September 30, 2015 at 6:45: Beautifully done, Stu. Have you tried WC painting on Aqua board? I wonder if that will be same as gessoed foamcore.

Comment by Stuart J. Gourlay on August 26, 2015 at 9:01: Go for it Nancy!! I am not rusty at all, but rather just inexperienced. I had my first watercolor lesson ever a month ago from a friend in Wisconsin, and I am thinking of signing up for a beginner's class next month. I have dabbled in watercolors off and on for years (much more off than on) but I am really excited about trying to improve my skills. I will look for your watercolors on this site in the near future!!

Comment by Nancy Sands on August 26, 2015 at 8:00: WOW, Stu! This is a watercolor. I like how vibrant it is. I am thinking of getting back into WC as well. A friend wants me to paint one for her. With all the oil painting I have been doing, I feel really rusty at WC. I' going to take a workshop with my old teacher in Montana de Oro in September. Can't wait.

Comment by Lori Ippolito on August 24, 2015 at 15:59: Good tip Candi!! Stu glad to hear about your painting adventures !!

Comment by Candi Hogan on August 24, 2015 at 7:39: and squeezed out See how it works on that surface, and let us know! I'll have to look up that gesso!

Comment by Stuart J. Gourlay on August 24, 2015 at 7:39: Thanks Candi! I'll give it a try.

Comment by Candi Hogan on August 24, 2015 at 7:37: Make sure you Magic Eraser is wet too Stuart.

Comment by Stuart J. Gourlay on August 24, 2015 at 7:32: Thanks Candi! I may try your tip out. No the surface is an 8 by 10 inch piece of Foamcore gessoed with watercolor gesso from QOR. Brushing it on up thinned with water using a bristle brush in a different direction for each coat gives an irregular texture that looks a bit like a fine portrait linen. The color actually lifts fron this surface quite easily.

Comment by Candi Hogan on August 24, 2015 at 7:09: Hi Stuart, really liking the middle ground and background!!! It just seems that the rocks are floating, especially the large. I found a trick by with wetting the area and using a magic eraser (very gently and slowly ) to lift out color, it works well. You can tape off the areas you don't want touched, and then come back in when it is dry and soften the edges and add more grasses. You are making me want to pull out my watercolors! Good luck! Do I understand that you are using the watercolor canvas? I tried it, liked it, but found it pooled a bit and had a tendency for the paint to lift easily.