Watercolor: Drybrush Technique

I grew up drawing pictures from Gene Franks books of drawing. I love his work, but I must admit that it is easier to learn to do graphite drawings following his limited instructions, than it is to follow how to do watercolor following his limited instructions. I will confess to being a blond female from Kentucky, that learns better from watching someone, but it was hard for me to follow how he went from drawing to completed project in 4 pictures. He does amazing things by using a basic monochrome of purple to produce the shadows and lays other colors on top of that in glazes to produce the final full color picture. I wish that I could have watched him a few times to actually see how he did it. I understand he was a great teacher in person.

Having never painted the usual way, I took to this method like a duck to water. I'm afraid this method may spoil me! I found some of the concepts odd at first, especially the purple underpainting for everything, but then I remembered that Rockwell started his oil paintings with a Mars violet underpainting; and besides, the results are beautiful! I'd say that if you've never done a watercolor before in your life, here is a safe way to plunge into a new medium with good results!

A fantastic little book. The author draws with watercolor paint! In otherwords, instead of the usual wash or broad strokes that most painters use to complete their paintings he builds pictures with a wash and then painting thin small strokes or daubs of the brush as if it were a pen. The results are facinating. Each chapter has a project/demonstration and lists exactly the brushes used, the paint, surfaces, etc. By following the instructions you learn a new approach to watercolor painting. The process is not unlike egg tempera painting (which I also do) except with watercolor paint. After reading this book and completing the acorn project I am ready to begin the next project. I know I am going to have to incorporate more of this style of watercolor painting in my new work.