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Holiday Drawing and Painting out-of-doors
(en plein air).
We are encouraged to paint out of doors, and
for good reason. It is – with good preparation – a very rewarding
experience.
The Sun is shining, the location is
stunning, your subject is full of character and interest, there is a drink
at your elbow and you may choose to sit alone or with like minded company.
The finished article will be all yours – a true original – an enduring
reward.
Be Prepared
The sun will move—draw in the shadows
before it does.
Don't rush the painting and especially not
the planning/composition and the seeing—'Paint what you see not what you
know'.
More than all else - Content and Composition
- separate the artist from the copier and the photographer from the
snapper.
Composition and the Viewing Frame—What strikes you on
your first outing, is how vast is the view. Enter the humble viewing frame;
a hole, the same aspect ratio as the painting area, cut into A5 (~ 6 x
8.25”) cards. Mount board from the frame shop is ideal, with cut outs 2/3
the size of the painting:
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Painting
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Cut-out
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5 x 7
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3.3 x 4.6
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*6 x 9
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4 x 6
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7 x 11
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4.6 x 7.3 (only 4 per sheet)
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*Recommended, 8 paintings per 'sheet' 11” x
14” standard frame. 2 ½ ” mount or 2” with 1/2” clear surrounding the
painting.
The range of viewing angle from touching the
nose – wide, to arms length – narrow, is usually sufficient. In the studio
(plan 'B' in case it rains) smaller frames are more appropriate, the same
numbers but this time in centimetres, e.g. picture 6 x 9” cut-out 6 x 9
cms.
'A viewing frame is invaluable for all
subjects from life in-doors and out.'
Watercolour Shopping List:
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Winsor & Newton ARTISTS’ WATER
COLOUR
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Series / 5 or 14ml*
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£
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1
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Winsor Blue (Green Shade) – Primary Blue,
Cyan
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1 / 5ml
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£__________
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2
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Permanent Rose – Primary Red, Magenta
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3 / 5ml
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£__________
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3
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Winsor Yellow – Primary Yellow
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1 / 14ml**
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£__________
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4
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Neutral Tint (Black)
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1 / 5ml
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£__________
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5
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Burnt Sienna
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1 / 5ml
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£__________
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6
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Yellow Ochre
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1 / 5ml
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£__________
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7
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Winsor Green (Yellow Shade)
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1 / 5ml
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£__________
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8
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Plastic ‘Combination Palette’ see photo
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£__________
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9
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Paper Arches, not, 300lb (640gsm) Qty 6
sheets (minimum) cut to half or quarter size by the supplier.
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£__________
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10
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A pad of Langton’s Watercolour paper for
test paper and trial sketches.
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£__________
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11
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Escoda: Kolinsky-Tajmyr Sable Round
Watercolour Brush
Series 1212 – Size 8
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£__________
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12
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Pro Arte Series 101 Prolene Watercolour
Round (synthetic) size 16 (wash brush)
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£__________
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13
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Pencil – Pentel P205 5mm clutch pencil
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£__________
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14
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Eraser – good quality soft + Putty Rubber
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£__________
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15
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Board, lightweight, thick 1/8” plus card
or 1/4” foam board, 2/3 larger than paper size, A3 is good for painting
area up to 7” x 11”. With 2 or 3 bulldog clips
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£__________
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Additional requirements for painting out
of doors:
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16
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Stool or camping chair (aluminium is good)
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£__________
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17
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Second board or tray to place palette,
water jar, paints, etc. on the ground (waterproof) or on a second stool
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£__________
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18
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Water carrier one to five litres.
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£__________
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19
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Kitchen role.
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£__________
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20
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Very large sun hat or sunshade, plus,
factor 20+ sun cream – very important, sunburn can ruin an out door
painting experience.
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£__________
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Items 1, 2 and 3 are all the paints you need
providing you have mastered 'real primary mixing' (see
'The Truth about Colour' ) if not include items 4—7.
Notes:
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Primary alternatives: Maimeri Blu Primary Blue – Cyan
400, Primary Red – Magenta 256, Primary Yellow 116 from www.jacksonsart.co.uk
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We do not recommend an easel for watercolour.
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*14 ml size tubes are more economic than 5ml. **Buy two
or three times more Yellow than Cyan or Magenta.
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