Technique of Watercolor Painting: WC08 WORKSPACE

The watercolor painting workspace plays a vitalwork. Pin a cotton strip 4 inches wide 2 feet long
part in the success of a watercolorist.It is easierto the right of the board into the edge of the
and more productive having a private room toworktop for quick cleaning. Also use half a hand
work. Some painters need more space thantowel for drying hands.The ground is not
others. Having your own workspace is a greatstretched nor pinned nor fixed to the board in any
privilege. Not everyone has the good fortune toway. This will allow the paper to be quickly
have even the desire to paint let alone their ownpositioned in response to the movement of the
workspace where they can experiment and learnwatercolor.A board tilt block should be softwood
to develop a God given talent.Adopt a permanent[resin-free] about 70 x 120mm. The softwood tilt
workspace if you can. At any time of the day oris lightweight for quick removal when required. A
night the workspace should be accessible andgood idea is to cover the tilt with blanket material
allow freedom to commence work withto stop board rock.I use a flush door as a
immediate effect. There should be no need to askworktop resting on bookcases. Its working height
others to leave or remove the belongings ofhas to suit you - crotch height when standing.
others out of the way. The workspace should beSuspend a tray shelf below 4 inches clear for
set aside and dedicated for your painting workportfolios.Over the worktop I lay doubled heavy
alone. Think of it as a sort of shrine and bewhite canvas sailcloth. Below the worktop is a
jealous of others going anywhere near yourbasket for waste paper and unwanted bits. On
workspace unless at your request. Privacy cannotthe floor where I stand is a thick rug or strip of
be overstated. Try to keep the aura of thecarpet to keep the feet warm and to prevent
workplace entirely your own. You do not allow theslipping.I sit on a draughtsman's adjustable height
vibrations of others to invade where you paint asand back revolve chair. I have a wooden angled
young children pets and nosy family members atfootrest with a mat on it - for use when
the wrong time can be a pain.Always locate atseated.On the wall is a chalkboard for quick idea
right angles to a window from your left side. Thissketching notesTo the right of board I have two
helps to give a strong feeling of light direction inwhite enameled gas oven trays for palettes and
your work. Watercolor painting is all about light. Oilbehind the board I have additional narrower trays
and Acrylic painters create their own light qualityfor water buckets.
in their work. Watercolor painters have this forOn these trays are all the painting materials for
free by retaining the light already in the paper. Itquick removal. To the left behind the board are
is unwise to paint watercolors in artificial light.Iftest papers strips and cleaning paper rolls. A
you have a garden erect a lockable well insulatedone-sided graduated stainless steel straight edge is
timber shed. The shed should be located windowswall hung. All white kitchen paper roll is used to
facing north and built to allow for extension. Directdab watercolor clouds painting. Toilet rolls to the
light from the sun reflected by the paper up intoright are used to clean and dry the oven trays.To
the eyes will cause glare and make it impossiblethe left of board are reference books color and
to work. It is better in the case of a garden shedother pencils. Also draughtsman tools setsquares
to fix a worktop along the whole length of thecompasses dividers the lot. Build up these supplies
shed first making sure the distance between thegradually as needed. Do not waste money. On a
back edge of the entrance door frame and theseparate table I let paintings to dry under mount
inside face of the window wall is sufficient toand glass. Do not forget the computer!Try to
accommodate the front to back dimension of thekeep the air at constant temperature and
worktop.Fix a standpipe near the entrance doorhumidity. Try to position the workplace so you
for water. It will be good to connect an electricitycan move around everything. Avoid having the
power supply.Materials should be ready availableworktop with the long edge against the wall if
and in place. It should not be necessary to startpossible - except of course in the case of a
cleaning brushes or the work desk or looking forgarden shed studio. It is then easier to keep the
lost equipment before starting work. If possiblestudio clean and tidy.Please remember painting is a
lock the door against unwanted entry and onlyvery private world where problems arising from
allow others in under your supervision. Do not lendthe difficulties of the work need an advance in
anything to anyone. Before starting work thepersonal development before their solution is
most you should need to do is get fresh water topossible. It is advisable to keep mentally and
mix some colors. Start each work session as ifphysically fit. Resist depressions like the plague.
afresh.Your drawing board on which the paperKeep your spirits refreshed and positive at all
[ground] will rest should be large enough totimes.My very best wishes.John Blenkin is a retired
accommodate the size of your paper with aboutarchitect and is now a watercolor painter and
5 inches plus all round. Perhaps the optimum boardarticle writer. His interests are wide covering both
size is 800 x 600 x 18mm thick - white laminatetechnical and philosophical subjects. He also writes
faced. The extra space is used to rest the handonline articles on the technique of watercolor
or to place test strips of paper cut from cheaperpainting.
watercolor paper or the back of discarded spoiled