Painting With the White of Your Paper

Featuring their own work and that of other artists, the authors show you how to use the white of your paper to tell the story in your paintings. Throughout, you'll get extensive insights from the artists on their creative processes and materials as well as step-by-step instructions on particular painting techniques. In the first part of this book, Judi Wagner and Tony van Hasselt open your eyes to the ways in which "white space" can bring life to your watercolor paintings. In the second part of this book, the authors show you how to preserve and maximize the white in your paintings. First, they take you through the wide range of papers and boards you can use and show you how surface texture, color and weight can affect your painting. Next, they show you how to plan your white space and save it with abstract underpainting and masking. As you read and follow their instructions, you'll learn to enhance your whites through gradation and edge quality. You'll discover how to add character and texture to your whites with dry brushwork and spatters, sprays and runs. And finally, the authors will show you what to do if you accidentally paint over a white area or decide you need to lighten a dark area. You'll learn how to reclaim your whites while preserving your painting and paper with the aid of sponges, salt and razor blades.