Russell Black
Tin Pan Painter

My goal with this site is to promote outdoor sketching and watercolor painting. I love to paint using Big brushes, Bright color, and with Bold strokes. My hope is that I will inspire you to pack up your painting gear, go outside, and have an adventure exploring the world we live in.

"Dinghy" - Transparent Watercolor, 15" x 22"

This painting was created during the last workshop of this year. As you can see, I did end up adding a few bedsheets. Even though this painting looks complicated, its really only three simple steps:

1) Wash - a background wash of thin color was done on damp paper, leaving only the areas of reserved white paper.

2) Silhouette - the darkest darks (trees) were established to set the end value range and then then midtones (cast shadow shapes) were painted. These shapes gave the buildings their form. The lace (the supporting piers) were next, and finally the foreground rocks were toned down. In this stage I also lifted out the dinghy. It was easier to lift out the boat rather than paint around it in the Wash stage.

3) Details - the small shapes and calligraphy completed the painting. Here is where I added the bright color of the dinghy and the bedsheets.

Again, the Wash & Silhouette is the basic method for creating a watercolor painting, and all other methods originate from here. The W&S can be used to paint any subject, and with the wide variety of wash types (flat, mingled, gradated, patchwork) and applications, you can paint everything from a traditional English watercolor to a California explosion of color and symbology.

For more instruction on the W&S, I have a basic video on the process, VM06 - Wash & Silhouette Painting (click here).

As a painter of watercolors, I feel that there are three things that contribute to the success of a painting. They are the three B's of watercolor:

Use a BIG brush. I begin painting with a large flat brush. This keeps the work loose and fresh. You can't piddle around with a large brush in your hand. Stay with that brush for as long as possible.

Use BRIGHT color. I use fresh, moist, bright color for every painting. You can't make a great painting by using dried up bits of old paint. If your palette looks like a mud flat, all cracked and dry, then squeeze out some fresh paint. Use pure, transparent colors and keep the earth colors to a minimum. I have nothing against using neutrals, but it's easier to quiet down a bright painting than it is to liven up a dull one.

Use BOLD strokes. Take that large brush and pull or push it across the paper with feeling. Show the paper who's boss. Painting in watercolor takes a certain amount of bravado. You can't make a great painting by tickling the paper to death. Paint a watercolor like you mean it. Be bold!

Remember the three B's - BIG, BRIGHT, and BOLD.

To find out how to convert a camera tripod or traditional French easel into a more practical watercolor easel, click here.

For a brief bio, please click here.

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