Setting up a new watercolor palette

QUESTION: Susie, I have read your tips on setting out the watercolors in my brand new palette. I will follow the ideas of using the colorwheel to fill the wells (84) with empty wells in between to fill as new colors are added. Do I add glycerin and water to the colors as I put them in the palette wells? Do I empty the colors straight from the tubes into the palette? The palette has a cover, so that will help to keep the colors dust-free. Thank you for your help. I look forward to your advice. JHY

Susie's Reply:
Hello!
Thanks for writing! Before you squeeze out any paint check the tube to see if the paint has settled and separated. The binder in watercolors is gum arabic and it is clear gooey stuff that sometimes rises to the top of the tube if the tube has been setting for a while. You may need to kneed the tube or turn the tube upside down for 24 hours to let the pigments re-mingle with the binder.
When setting up the new palette squeeze the paint directly from the tube into the wells. You do not need to add anything to the paint. Some colors will be wetter than other colors naturally.
I have better luck when I fill the well about half full then stir the paint with a toothpick to evenly distribute it and make sure all the tiny air bubbles pop and the gum arabic is mixed in well. Allow it to dry then add more paint to fill the well. Stir to mix and level off the paint in each well. Leave the cover off to speed up the drying time. Dry it completely before using it if you have time.
When you are ready to paint, simply dampen the colors with your brush as you use them. Some colors will reconstitute easier than others.
DON’T spritz the whole palette with water to prepare your paint for painting. That will break them down and make the paint crumble.

84 wells will hold a lot of paint choices. Have fun!

SUSIE

PS. I forgot to add if your watercolor paint is a brand that contains honey it will not dry in the palette wells, it will always remain tacky and gooey. That type of paint is formulated to remain damp so it will not work for this suggested setup.

Easy Christmas Cards with Masking Fluid

Hi Susie,
Help! I want to paint my own Christmas cards this year and I'm running out of time!
I am not totally new to watercolor but I am new to the use of masking fluids. What tips can you give me to to create a card using masking fluid to reserve the whites for the snow. I need ideas to get me going. Thanks. EJ

Hello EJ -- Good for you! Hand made holiday cards are always welcome and appreciated!

Here are a few tips:

• If you are using the packaged blank cards (precut with envelopes) be sure the paper will support a wet application.
• When shopping for blank cards look for cards made for watercolor or use standard watercolor paper cut to the size you need to fit your envelopes.

Masking fluids are a great way to reserve whites when painting Christmas cards. There are several brands of masking fluid available in many art stores, some are clear and some are tinted. They are similar in how they are applied and how they work. Use what works best for you.

As for ideas and inspiration, I have a new Winter Landscape card lesson using masking fluid on my website. It's free to print for your personal use.

Let me know what you think!

Happy painting!

SUSIE

Colors of a mountain lake???

Question: What colors do you mix for a mountain lake? Trying to watercolor a photo of a mountain lake in Yosemite. Angela

Susie's Reply: This question doesn't have a definitive answer. There are several color options and several factors to consider when painting still water as you would see in a mountain lake.
Unless the water is merky from algae or muddy from recent rains the water itself is grenerally clear and without much color. What influences the color of the water the most is the reflections of what is around it. Deep water is usually darker and more reflective than shallow water where you can see the bottom.
I know this answer may seem a little vague but without seeing your lake and what's around it I'm not sure what colors to suggest. I can tell you that I would use the same colors I used to paint the trees and mountains around the lake.
Another factor that influences the what we see in a reflection is the angle of incidence or the location of the eye of the viewer vs. angle of reflection located on the surface of the water. If we are looking down into a lake what we see is quite different than what we see if we are standing closer to the water level on the shore of the lake.
In most cases the color of the water is a darker value than the local color of its surroundings.
I know this doesn't give you a "formula" to mix up before you paint the water but I hope you can look at the colors surrounding your lake and see what you might use to create an illusion that pleases you. Have fun! And don't get discouraged if you don't get it right the first time ....try painting another. Let me know how it goes....and don't hesitate to ask again if you need more specific input.
Keep those brushes wet!
SUSIE

What's your brush for painting skies?

Question: Susie, I have your dvd on clouds, which is fantastic. Can you please tell me what brush you use. It looks like it is about 1-1/2 to 2". I bought one, but it is too thin and leave streaks (I paid quite a bit for it). Thanks. Pat
SUSIE'S REPLY:
Hi Pat,
The brush I use is a cutter-type brush made from hog bristles (once used by sign painters to “cut” in sharp letters).
The industry stopped making this type brush since most signs are now digitally made. So the brushes were hard to find.
Daniel Smith listened to my plea and started making this brush for me and my classes. They call it the Susie Short chiseled tip watercolor wash brush and they sell them in their catalog and online. http://www.danielsmith.com/
I sell them in my little artstore too. But the price is better on the DS site since I buy my brushes from them then add a little mark up.

Truth be told I use this brush for 75% or more of almost every painting I do. It’s a good size for all washes and under paintings.
And it’s great for foliage and texture when using dry-brush techniques.

Thanks for writing! And have fun painting those skies!
Keep those brushes wet! Susie

Watercolor Pencils

Question: As a complete beginner - aged 78 - can you tell me if it is possible to erase watercolour pencil? Thanks! Patricia

Susie's Reply: Welcome to the Wonderful World of Watercolor!! Don't be afraid to jump in with both feet!
For the most part, depending on how dark and how much pressure was used when applying, watercolor pencils are not entirely erasable with a standard eraser. You can moisten the marks and get them to dissolve almost entirely with some gentle agitation provided you are using good quality paper. Marks made with watercolor pencils on damp paper are even more stubborn to remove.
There are some good instruction books on using watercolor pencils that go into much more detail as to what they will do and how to use them. For me personally I love to use them to draw in a light sketch for placement or to add a vein to a flower or a whisker on a critter.
Enjoy your journey!
SUSIE

Watercolor on a Cruise

Hi Susie, I am just wondering if you have ever considered giving lessons on a cruise ship. If it was in Jan or Feb I'd be first in line!!! That would be awesome! Thanks,Lenore

Susie's Reply: YES! I'd love to teach watercolor lessons on a cruise ship! I'll have to look into that and see how we can make that happen!

Anyone else interested? Let me know!
SUSIE

Thining masking fluids

FYI: Masking fluid also known as drawing gum or liquid frisket is used to reserve whites when painting with watercolor.

Question: When masking fluid gets thick how can I thin it so it can be used again?

Susie's Replay: Unfortunately there is not a simple answer to this problem. I find than most masking fluids have a relatively short shelf life once they have been opened and exposed to air. Most manufacturers state the shelf life for masking fluid is +/- 12 months.
Depending on the formula used to make the masking fluid (most are made of latex with ammonia added as a preservative) you might try adding a drop or two of pure ammonia (not ammonia with soap added.) Sometimes a drop of water will work, but not always. Test first! Try thinning a small amount in a separate container so as not to destroy the whole bottle of masking.
My best advice is its better to be safe than sorry..... if in doubt as to whether using old masking will work as it is intended don't risk it on an important project. If you are just experimenting and playing with the paint then you can afford to take a risk.
If possible check with the manufacturer of your brand to see what they recommend.

Thanks for your question. I'd be interested to know if you find out there's a better solution.
SUSIE