Welcome to HartNews, Volume 07, Issue 1!
So...What is HartNews? HartNews is my attempt to write about life and watercolor from where I see it. As a teacher, I enjoy passing on some of the things I think about or do in watercolor. As a fellow human, I wish to pass on some of the things that inspire me - or make me laugh!. I've included you in this issue - you who are painters, friends, former guests and/or family - some of you without your expressed permission. So…please reply and ask to be removed from this mailing list if you'd rather not get HartNews editions - or just delete me! Originally, I intended to make HartNews a monthly event. Now, more realistically, I see it as a quarterly or bi-annual publication. If you have something you'd like add or say, just email me! and please feel free to pass this on to your friends... If you'd like to see the back issues - just check the Archives above - more demos, etc. - and don't forget to Bookmark this issue!
It is very important that watercolor artists pay attention to the Chemical Index numbers for their paints to be sure of what you are buying.
Lunar Earth PBr11. Magnesium ferrite. A remarkable texturing pigment
Venetian Red PR101. Iron oxide which is also used for Indian Red, English red, Light Red, Burnt Sienna and Mars violet. Each pigment is treated differently in the lab.
Duochrome Adobe. This iridescent pigment changes color from pinkish to yellowish depending upon your viewing angle.
After nearly 2 years in the works and 1 year of solid writing and painting, the book is finished and being published now! What book?
The Watercolor Artist's Guide to Exceptional Color
Walter Foster publisher • Author Jan Hart • Expected availability Oct., 2007
In this Issue:
Please click where you'd like to go..
It began as a concept in the fall of 2005 and finally - with the consistent help of editors at Quarto Press, I finished the last painting and color swatches on Tuesday, July 24 - nearly 2 years later. The title is....
The Watercolor Artist's Guide to Exceptional Color
. published by Walter Foster books. It is all about color and pigments - color schemes, color use by artists, color values, pigments, color relationships and the watercolor processes that allow the colors and pigments to work to their max in paintings. I have loved the process of writing and researching and painting - but ready for a break. I don't know what the cover will look like yet - but I do know that it'll be available at bookstores and through Amazon.com by October and will sell for around $20.00. I will be selling copies, too - which will be signed - for around $25.00, postage included.
Take a few peeks at some of the pages! I know you can't see them well - but you can get an idea of the general lay out. The book is 128 pages, 9" x 9" square in size and really jam packed with info, paint swatches, insights, paintings (many step by step), reference materials, historical relevance, plus! The subjects I painted for the book include:
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Animals
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Backgrounds for still lifes, florals, etc.
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Buildings
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Changing Directions.... (one of my favorites)
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Fall Landscapes
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Figures & Portraits
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Florals & Plants
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Grasses, Foreground
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Light, Shade, Shadow & Reflected Light
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Painting the Night
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Rocks & Cliffs
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Skies & Clouds
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Spring & Verdant Landscapes
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Waterscapes
- Winter Landscapes
Page 3.
An introductory page, it features a little painting done in transparent, non-staining luminous paints along with some iridescents and interference pigments. (All explained fully in the book).
Page 15.
One of the pages on color wheels, color choices & pigment type color wheels. This color wheel is based upon Bruce MacEvoy's 12 color positions....
Page 95.
One of the pages on Buildings, showing the process of selecting the photo, value & composition study, perspective study, process description, paints used, glazing for special effects, color scheme, etc.
Because I did the book on a contract, I will receive no royalties. Selling the books myself will help to recoup some costs and allow me to continue to be a part of the process. If you'd like a signed copy, please just email me and I'll let you know when & how. Email Jan here. I hope to be able to set up automated sale from my website....
All the paintings from the book will be offered for sale in March, 2008, on-line. Please let me know if you'd like to be notified. Email Jan here You can see some previews on Jan's website
Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944)
"Color is the keyboard, the eyes are the harmonies, the soul is the piano with many strings. The artist is the hand that plays, touching one key or another, to cause vibrations in the soul."
Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944), modern Russian painter, one of the first creators of pure abstraction in modern painting and founder of Der Blaue Reiter.
Do you know about handprint.com? Here is the website for watercolor artists who want answers to their questions from an expert who is not trying to sell you paints.... http://www.handprint.com
After you select the color wheel (shown below) on his home page - you can get lost in more than you ever really thought to ask about watercolor painting and pigments.
He begins with,
"Welcome to the best and most comprehensive resource for watercolor painters on the Internet..
And he goes on from there. Bruce MacEvoy built his site as he learned to paint and researched all he could find out about the paints, pigments, color, optical physics, watercolor materials, etc. He shares all his knowledge with us.
When I have a question about a paint, like....
"I wonder which paint I should buy to replace Alizarin Crimson, which is not entirely lightfast?",
I simply "Google" Alizarin Crimson, handprint. Up pops handprint: red watercolors which gives me the page that directly answers my question. All the red pigments are listed according to their Index number (which is critical) and many also show the testing Bruce has done concerning lightfastness. He makes recommendations about the specific pigments and also about pigment substitutions. I've used a lot of Bruce MacEvoy's information in the writing of my book and can heartily and highly recommend this free resource to you! Enjoy!
How else would I have found Perylene Maroon PR 179?
We're winding up the 2007 workshop season in style! 2008 schedule should be on Jan's site by November. Coming up are:
- All About Rocks, August 17,18,19,20. Filled. Waiting list only.
- Painting the Colors of Early Fall - in Exceptional Color, September 14,15,16. 4 spots available ; $353 includes tax.
- Exceptional Color in Watercolor, September 24,25,26,27 - Spokane, WA.
- Please contact for information and availability:
- Aja Engels
Corbin Art Center, Spokane, Washington, 509.625.6677
aengels@spokanecity.org
- Aja Engels
- Please contact for information and availability:
- On the Trail of O'Keeffe in northern New Mexico, Fall Colors. October 12 - 19. $1105.83 includes tax. Note! a sudden cancellation - makes 1 space available - for YOU! Email Jan here. Read details of what is include here.
For more information on all workshops, see Jan's website or click here.
The subject shows beutiful glow and cast shadows on and around the enter of each flower. Glow can be created by using the transparent, luminous paints, Rose madder gen., Cobalt blue and Aureolin yellow. My personal favorite luminous paints are: Rose madder gen. (NR 9) by Winsor & Newton, Cobalt blue (PB 28) and Azo Aureolin (PY 150) by Graham paints, which uses a honey binder and are oh, so smooth. I found a substitute for non-lightfast Aureolin Yellow (PY40) but am still using Rose madder genuine for it delicacy even though it is not rated lightfast. A good substitute is Permanent Rose (W&N) or Qunacridone Rose (DS).
Petunia Glow
For finishing, I allowed it all to dry again and then re-wet to apply more cobalt blue shapes into the flowers. I even glazed the lower right petunia with a light wash of cobalt blue to put it into shade to see if it would still glow. It did.
Note that one of my finishing techniques I call "tucking" involves placing a heavier note of a pigment - i.e. cobalt blue into a crevice or fold and allowing it to flow out into a prewet area to make a graded passage. Cobalt blue doesn't like to do this because it is heavy metal inorganic pigment and just wants to drop and stay put. You have to work a bit - or use an organic!
This year the cabins, now called 'casitas' got some beautiful upgrading with Milestone floors done by artist, Donna Caulton. The photo to the right shows the Casita 1 living area, stepped wall with bathroom and studio/extra bedroom beyond. Everyone loves the floors! Thank you, Donna!! Take a look at more photos on my website. Indigenous plantings have also been added, some walls painted and more is scheduled as we can do it.
And all the animals are just fine including Livvie, the welcome dog and her friend, Seurat - a genuine Hines variety pointilist. Actually, some believe he is a cross between a Blue Healer and a Beagle - a Blue Bealer?
And remember - when you come for a stay at Ranchito San Pedro, the happy chickens will provide you with fresh eggs while you are here! Check availability at the bottom of the page for Artist/Vacation Casitas.