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Position:Home>Visual Arts> How to paint smoke with watercolor? ?Question: How to paint smoke with watercolor!? !? in my watercolor class we have to do a project painting fall leaves in an interesting arrangement, and mine involves putting smoke around them!. the only problem is, no matter how many times i've tried painting smoke i can't get it right!. has anyone painted smoke before and have any tips!? thank you!! :) Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: You need to paint everything else first and leave the smoke until the very end!. Smoke and mist are like highlights and shadows - they are not actual concrete objects!. Therefore, all of the solid objects or figures need to be painted in their entirety first and then add the smoke (or mist or highlights/shadows, etc!.)!. To add the smoke, first make sure everything else on the paper is dry!. Then you need to make a very watery grey in order to brush a wash over the area where you want the smoke!. If you are using a very light coloured grey then you may need to do 2, 3, 4 or more coats over the area in order to build up the desired effect!. If it is a darker grey that you are using then it may only take 1 or 2 coats!. Let each coat dry before applying the next!. Watch that you don't leave puddles of water on the paper because if you let the puddle dry you will likely end up with a watermark around the puddle (a watermark is the darker outline of the wash)!. Watermarks are beautiful and have their place, but not for smoke!. Remember, you are trying to paint something that has to feel like you could put your hand right through it, so also watch the amount of white that you use because too much white will make it feel heavy and opaque!. That is why it needs to be watery!. If you feel that your application is too heavy or there is too much water simply use a rag to dab the surface and pick up some of the colour (or liquid)!. I hope this helps!. You can also try the following websites for tips, techniques and video demos: www!.currys!.com www!.utrecht!.com www!.wetcanvas!.com www!.artistsnetwork!.tvWww@QuestionHome@Com This technique could work: Try wetting your paper with whatever color you're painting it with!. Make sure it's between slightly damp and slightly wet!. Take a DRY brush (it has to be completely dry) and stroke it through the wet paint literally picking up the wet paint you just applied!. This should create a white smoke looking effect!. Or, if you want to go for a colored smoke, wet your paper first making your paper damp!. Take a color (not too much), and apply on the paper and tilt it to wherever you want the direction of the paint to go!. This should have a very soft stream-like look!. You can use salt also and sprinkle some on top of your damp paper!. Hope that helps!Www@QuestionHome@Com I've painted smoke coming from a train!. Look at my Train album www!.picturetrail!.com/75thrangers!. Actually it's very easy if you have "white" watercolors!. The way I do it is use a light color of grey and paint where you want the smoke!. Remember, the smoke color gets lighter as it rises in the air!. If you don't have white watercolor then make the grey lighter and lighter with water, as it rises!. The light color grey is what comes from burning leaves!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Try dabbing the paint on with a piece of damp sponge!. A paintbrush isn't shaped to mimic smoke!.Www@QuestionHome@Com |