Watercolour help please

[SteveCrowther]

I wonder if anyone can help.
I have been a lurker here for over a year and was very excited when watercolour was added to the impressive list of tools for AR3. I have upgraded to Studio Pro and am keen to start my digital watercolour painting.

However I am meeting with great frustration.
Can anyone please tell me what suggested settings I need to make a true wet in wet effect? When I paint with 'real' paints, I wet the paper, paint a wash and then 'drop in' other colours to get a colour bleed. The colours then mix to create new colours. I just can't seem to get this wet in wet technique. All I seem to be able to do is simulate a wet marker pen effect.
I am sure I am missing something but I hope for help from this very talented community.

Thanks,
Steve

[Jules]

Hi Steve, blimey tall order....Im sure it can be done, practice practice practice practice and practice, I have done many watercolor paintings using artrage effectively, I even experimented with the gloop tool with some interesting results.... here look http://bit.ly/b5UnsZ

Its not impossible, you don't have to stick to the presets, once you have figured out how to do a wet on wet, save it.

Don't forget to use the real color blending option, also the palette knife has some great effects that mimic watercolor blending... also experiment with the canvas and layers, these can make a BIG difference to a painting.

I shall now go away and have a practice myself, if I come up with anything I will let you know. I find digital watercolor a great challenge.

Have fun
Jules

[arenhaus]

In brush settings, turn Paper Wet on and Insta-Dry off.

[Jules]

Basically its trying to make the paint diffuse like it does when you add water to watercolor paint...


OK, ive been faffing... Ive attached a screenshot, I used the the delicate on dry preset, each individual color on a separate layer, then overlapped the colours and blended them with the just water brush.. I like the desired wet on wet effect...hope its something you resemble as wet on wet?

I also use traditional watercolor neither method is in your absolute control thats what I like about the medium be it real or digital

[Jules]

The finished piece.... I blended all the layers into one another with a pallette knife then I merged all layers down...

Quite excited about this now...glad you posted this thread.

[SteveCrowther]

Hi Jules,

Thanks for that brilliant explanation. I have admired your images and I now feel I can go away and practice your techniques. I look forward to your next painting using your method!!

Thanks again,

Steve

[Jules]

Hi Steve, hope it helped, its still not perfect, Id love to get that grainy feel, Ill have to experiment a little more.

[SteveCrowther]

Hi Jules,

Please do keep trying. I must admit that I find watercolour the most rewarding and frustrating medium I use. I do love the unpredictability and just want to recreate it with AR3. You seem to be getting there

Thanks for taking the time to help me. I am sure your posts will help many other people who are wrestling with the free nature of watercolour painting.

Cheers,

Steve

[Jules]

Here is another sample, 2 layers, one layer is rough, blended with frost palette knife..

[Jules]

Hi Jules,

Please do keep trying. I must admit that I find watercolour the most rewarding and frustrating medium I use. I do love the unpredictability and just want to recreate it with AR3. You seem to be getting there

Thanks for taking the time to help me. I am sure your posts will help many other people who are wrestling with the free nature of watercolour painting.

Cheers,

Steve

I will and you are welcome. Id like to see more people doing traditional style watercolo(u)rs on here.