Here is a great method to help remove the tightness and formality associated with figurative art.
A wonderful method to dispel the tightness of figurative drawing/painting. There is a liberating freedom and looseness with this technique and one can achieve credible depth of form tittering on the abstract. Best of all it is great fun.
Materials
- Watercolour Paper 300gms/ lbs
- Wooden Board
- Masking tape
- Tube of Watercolour paint in any colour
- Running Water & Sink but a jug of water outdoors would work also.
Method
- Tape some 300g paper to a board with masking tape.
- Taking a tube of watercolour roughly outline a figure using the paint straight from the tube. Expect paint clumps and misses in this simple linear outline.
- Leave aside for 4-7 minutes to allow pigment to absorb into the paper then using lightly running water activate the paint.
- Gently manipulate the board by shaking, rotating or tilting at different angles so that paint runs.
- Once happy with the smokey effect leave aside to dry or you can hang or leave up right to continue it’s own journey while drying.
Student Gallery
Student Work Helene Jalmarsson Student Work Agneta Nordberg
Would love to hear from you when you give this technique a try, please feel free to share your results. If anyone has other useful loosening up techniques please get in touch.