Wheelbarrows and whites
Posted: December 13, 2024 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: wheelbarrow, whites, winter, winter watercolour 16 CommentsWhen I posted this wheelbarrow painting on Facebook yesterday, someone asked me where I learned to do negative painting. It took me a minute to think about it because I didn’t really think of this as a negative painting. But of course it is, because of all the white areas. And the answer to the question: I learned to save the whites of a watercolour many years ago when I first studied with Edgar A. Whitney. We used value sketches and careful planning to figure out where the lightest areas of a painting would be, and to this day, I avoid the use of masking fluid. I try to save the large white shapes, and if I need some small highlights I use dots or lines of white watercolour as well as scraping with a blade to get the whites back.
The process for this one was:
1: A careful drawing. I knew I wanted to keep a layer of snow on the upper surfaces on the wheelbarrows so a good pencil drawing was key.
2: Careful brushstokes on the painted surfaces, so as not to cover the white areas that I wanted to save.
3. A light wash of very diluted Indanthrone Blue to tone some of the snow areas in shadow and contrast them with the brightest whites.
4: Lots of scraping with a mat knife to get the whites back in the grasses.
Thank you & good question!
I thought so too!
Great advice, thanks!
You’re welcome, Kathy!
As a scraping tool, may I suggest a double-ended pick that is used by dentists. Maybe your dentist could let you have a worn one from his kit. This tool works wonders to scrape lines of sunlight on water or to regain very thin details. I love reading ‘ The wheelbarrow’. Thank you
Hi Nicole. What a great idea!!! Thanks so much for mentioning it! Have a great day.
Nicole, what a fantastic idea. I will do that for sure! And thanks for reading The Wheelbarrow. Glad you like it!
Hi Shari
When you said you avoid masking fluid, I was wondering why; reactions on paper, drying time eating up creative moments?
Many instructors rely on using masking fluid in their courses and I’ve been taken to task for not using mine. I was so proud to have made the decision of what would be brightest before putting brush to paper: for me, it was part of the discipline of design.
You’ve made my day, saying that you don’t use masking fluid!
Always grateful for the Wheelbarrow and your courses. (Victorian Vignettes…OMG!!! I’m from Montreal, so to be there virtually with YOU has been a blast!)
Hugs from B.C.
Hi Lori,
So nice of you to write.
In answer to your question about masking fluid:
1. I learned how to save the whites with planning so it was just never part of my education
2. I don’t really do highly realistic watercolours where precise whites are required
3. I don’t like the results of paintings where you can see what was masked. It can often be very obvious and that is just not pleasing to my eye. It is, of course, a very personal thing. My favourite types of watercolours are the looser ones and my favourite watercolourists don’t seem to use masking fluid.
But I never say never and one day I may decide I need to use it to get a particular result. Although somehow I doubt that.
Glad you enjoy the newsletter and the courses! And happy that I can bring a bit of Montreal to you all the way across the country.
Have a wonderful holiday season.
Shari
Thanks for explaining your process. I think a lot of us have trouble saving our whites. I try to avoid using masking fluid if I can. (It is also usually dried up when I think about using it.) Your wheelbarrows always make me smile. They are such a delight to see in the snow.
Joan, thanks so much!!
Hi Shari,
I love reading the Wheelbarrow… from Burgundy, in France, where snow is now scarce in winter! I’m quite old (!) and started sketching two years ago when I discovered the local group of urban sketchers. I love joining them from time to time but I have a lot to learn, especially when it comes to choosing colors. I am aware that it’s essential to understand them, especially when mixing.”Watching yours videos on youtube is a real pleasure to me. I agree, the use of masking fluid can be very obvious ans I was wondering how to avoid it. Thank you very much for your answer!
Joyeux Noël et bonne année 2025!
Jacqueline
Bonjour Jacqueline,
Thanks so much for writing! Nice to hear from someone in France. I’m sorry your winters are not what they used to be. Ours in Montreal are not the same either. Much less snow than before, sadly… I love a good storm.
Glad you are enjoying the Wheelbarrow and the YouTube videos as well! You probably saw one that I recorded in Provence.
Joyeux Noël et bonne année à vous aussi. Et beaucoup de créativité en 2025!
Shari
Hi Shari,
I really enjoy reading your posts… from Burgundy, in France! Snow is getting scarce over here! I’m “quite old” and only started sketching about two years ago when I met our local group of urban sketchers;. I must say I have to learn so many things, particularly about colours and the way to mix them… Watching your videos teach me a lot. I’m really grateful to you. There is a wheelbarrow (two… three…) in my garden tooo, leaning against a lime tree. I can see it from my window and I think of you!
Joyeux Noël et bonne année!
Jacqueline
I’m glad you have a wheelbarrow too!!
It’s beautiful to look at but I have to be honest in saying I don’t want it snowing like this in my area. What can I say? When I was young, I loved it because it meant school was closed for the day and I could play in the snow. Now that I am an old woman, it rattles my body.