Beginners+ Watercolour Video Demonstrations
The photographs of my original paintings on this page show the subjects currently available as practical demonstration videos for people who are still at the early stages of learning watercolour techniques, moving on from the complete beginners section.
The cost for each demo is £6, sent to you as a set of stages linked to Google photos. Each has a running commentary on the colours and techniques used, recorded as I complete the painting in one take or in several stages.
They can be sent to you by WhatsApp (07858 054522) or by email: neilaclarke75@gmail.com (send an email link). The original photo I used as reference for the painting can be sent to you by email to print off or view on your browser.
Videos currently available (inc duration in time per demo):
Begin+ 1. Driftwood on a Northumberland beach (duration: 33:09)
Begin+ 2. Portraiture Basics (over 3 stages inc drawing)
Begin+ 3. Sunlit oak tree (duration: 44:36 over 2 stages )
Begin+ 4. Minninglow Evening (duration: 21:51)
Begin+ 5. Perpective basics (duration: 45:45 over 2 stages)
Begin+ 6. Connemara Mountains (duration: 63:17 over 5 stages) last stage link to view) –
https://photos.app.goo.gl/YBQAcM1zqpbDJ4NV6
Begin+ 7. Ilam trees in mist (duration: 41.02 over two stages)
Begin+ 8. Bala Lake (duration: 51:24 over 3 stages)
Begin+ 9. Winter Willows (duration: 35:06)
Begin+ 10. Approaching the Port of Dublin (duration: 30:53)
Begin+ 11. Windswept Cumbrian Tree (duration: 42:58)
Begin+ 12. Garden scene (duration: 57.59 over 3 stages)
Begin+ 13. Spring flowers (duration: 59:21 over 3 stages)
Begin+ 14. Barn owl portait (duration: 65:05 over 4 stages)
Begin+ 15. Winter Trees (duration: 59:17 over 8 stages)
Begin+ 16. Icy Fishpond (duration: 68:02 over 5 stages)
Begin+ 17. Winter Farmstead (duration: 82:42 over 5 stages)
Begin+ 18. Peak Barns (duration: 95:48 over 7 stages)
Begin+ 19. Winter mist trees (duration: 24:43 over 2 stages)
Stretching watercolour paper to keep it flat when laying washes of colour over the whole surface – follow the link below to see a practical demonstration.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/pYLhagS34drxrsZcA
Ongoing advice can be given as part of the overall price, reviewing your work by email or WhatsApp (using the above subject matter only).
Equipment and materials that I use for watercolour painting
The main palette of six Winsor & Newton ‘professional quality’ watercolours that I use (from the tube) include: French Ultramarine Blue, Winsor Blue (red shade), Winsor Lemon (replacing cadmium lemon), Yellow Ochre, Alizarin Crimson and Burnt Sienna (cheaper quality watercolours, such as the W&N ‘Cotman’ range, include bulking paste that can lead to dullness of colour if over mixed). I do not mix in any black or white paint when using a pure/transparent watercolour technique, but I often use permanent white gouache for body colour/highlights etc. I use Copydex (latex) glue as a masking fluid to preserve areas of white paper.
I mainly use round (size 10, 12 or 14) synthetic sable ‘Pro-Arte – Prolene Plus series 007’ brushes for most of my painting with the addition of a 3/4″ flat wash brush and a ‘rigger’ for fine lines (stiff oil paint brushes are good for texture and spattering). The more brushes you use, the less they wear out over time.
I normally paint onto a thick (medium ‘Not’ texture surface) watercolour paper stretched (if larger than A4) onto a 9mm thick piece of plywood board using brown paper gummed tape (the watercolour paper has to be completely wet on both sides before taping down – then it will shrink fractionally when it’s dry to leave a flat drum tight painting surface). See demo by following this link-
https://photos.app.goo.gl/pYLhagS34drxrsZcA
I use a porcelain plate for mixing paint in the studio along with a plastic palette with spaces for the dried paint to remain (and topped up from the tube when needed).