The Watercolorist’s Essential Notebook Keep Painting ! Gordon MacKenzie CINCINNATI, OHIO artistsnetwork.com Thank you for purchasing this Artist Network eBook. Sign up for our newsletter and receive special offers, access to free content, and information on the latest new releases and must-have art resources! Plus, receive a coupon code to use on your first purchase from NorthLightShop.com for signing up. or visit us online to sign up at http://artistsnetwork.com/ebook-promo Dedication For my sister, Vera, a kindred soul who gave me my first paints, and my brother, Don, a fellow artist who carves miracles from wood. Contents Special Offers Introduction 1 In Search of Inspiration Deciding what to do when starting is the hardest part. 2 Composition Constructing art that is both intellectually and emotionally satisfying. 3 Gradations and Reversals Adding variety and realism to your paintings by using these two often ignored aspects of the natural world. 4 Mingling Colors and Passages Letting the magic of watercolors and the imagination of the viewer create a more engaging experience for you and them. 5 Atmospherics Using climatic conditions to set the stage for your visual drama. 6 Wee People Giving life to your pictures by adding a few little figures of interest. 7 Working with Photographs Exploring the creative potential of reference photos when the imagination and daring are fully engaged. 8 Passing On the Spirit by Teaching Others Nurturing artistic growth in yourself and in others by sharing what you have learned. Nurturing artistic growth in yourself and in others by sharing what you have learned. About the Author GOOD MORNING 11" × 14" (28cm × 36cm) DISTANT SHORES 11" × 22" (28cm × 56cm) FAMILY REUNION 14" × 22" (36cm × 56cm) What do you want to say? It is permissible to have fun with your pictures, and sometimes that means saying more than what’s obvious with your paints. This one is called Family Reunion, and I have used stylized trees as the characters in my little drama. Can you find the black sheep, the grandparents, the eccentric aunts and uncles, cousins, the parents, children—and, oh, their pet rock? Introduction This book may be dangerous to open. It will at times ask you to use your own judgment, imagination and ingenuity to generate your own picture ideas. There are some step-by-step demos throughout wherever I felt the need for clarity, but often I rely on your intelligence and experience to carry on without training wheels. This book is really intended for those who have painted for a while but feel they are up against a wall and need a creative kick in the pants, or for those who have set their paints aside for a while because the process has lost its excitement and appeal. I understand completely. I have five ideas I want you to keep in mind while you read this book: 1. You don’t have to paint the way you paint now. 2. You don’t have to paint what you paint now. 3. You have no one to please but yourself. 4. Growth can only come from a positive attitude amid persistent stumbles. 5. Your creative spirit that is still with you is waiting for you to try out your new wings. This book is not written to showcase what I can do, but to make you aware of options, opportunities and variations that you can do. I want to offer ideas that you can take and run with, that you can explore and develop and use in your own way. I want to encourage you to try some new approaches as starting points for a whole new painting adventure. Later on in this book is a section on how to use photographic reference