Friends, in this Atelier section, I am hoping to start sharing with all of you thoughts on watercolor.  I will be sharing different products that I use, different books that I have found helpful, different artists that I admire.  My hope is to help you with your own personal watercolor journey by sharing with you things that have meaning to me and that have inspired me. 

I am a self-taught artist.  I always chuckle to myself when I say that, because it really is a misnomer.  My experience has been flavored by the journey of so many others. I have a library of books on watercolor that simply overflows.  I have learned from those around me and studied over many years the thoughts and ideas on art of those who have gone before me.  I want to share with you and encourage you to explore the exciting world of watercolor.

If you ever have any questions or comments regarding watercolor, never hesitate to contact me at lanettemarierozell@sbcglobal.net.

what paints to use

This month I want to share with you my favorite watercolor paint.  I use Windsor Newton watercolors.  There are many different watercolors available on the market, but I have always drifted back to the use of Windsor Newton.  

This brand is a favorite among many watercolor artists.  There are about 96 colors available in their professional line.  I use only a fraction of these.  I have found that you do not really need a lot of colors.  

You can paint with only three colors, if you choose.  You only need red, blue, and yellow to create an infinite variety of color.  However, there are special pigments that will get you further down the field in a smaller amount of time.

If you are interested in purchasing some Windsor Newton watercolor paints, here are a few that I would suggest.  These are pigments that I keep on my palette: Aureolin, Raw Sienna, Yellow Ochre, Cobalt Blue, Cerulean Blue, Ultramarine Blue, Cadmium Red, Alizarin Crimson.  These pigments include warm and cool variations of the primary colors and will easily be combined to create all the colors a beginner needs.

           WATERCOLOR PAPER

If you look closely, you will see a watercolor mark that reads Arches and, then on the next line, France.  Underneath it reads Aquarelle Arches.  This is the type of paper that I use and how to know you have the right kind.

There are many brands of watercolor paper out there.  Many of them are of professional quality, which I recommend using.  However, for me, I've chosen to go with Arches.  Over time I may explore using other brands, but Arches is hard to beat.

Arches is a cylinder mould, 100% cotton paper with long fibers. These qualities give the paper great beauty, strength, and texture.  This paper is created by the only papermill in the world that gelatin sizes its paper to the core.  This allows the paper to absorb multiple washes, paint to be removed whether wet or dry, and allows for absorption of  large amount of water.

Arches is available in cold press, hot press, and rough.  I usually use the cold press paper, but rough is also great for when you desire more texture in your painting.  It also comes in different weights.  140 and 300 are the weights I have used.  140 is the workhorse, while 300 is much thicker and is used for more substantial paintings.  The paper is available in 22X30 sheets or in blocks, pads, or rolls.

Arches is available at most art stores.  I've found it at Michaels, but they usually only have sheets available.  You can find it on Ebay, or in online retail stores such as www.jerrysartarama.com/ or www.cheapjoes.com/.

If you have any questions regarding watercolor paper or any other art question, don't hesitate to leave a message.  Thanks.