All about inks

I’m excited to share this article full of great information with all of you who, like me, love to work with watercolor and ink.

This guest article has been contributed by KT Matera, a pen enthusiast and owner of a little store in New Jersey that sells every variety of pen and paper for writers and artists. The shop is  shop is Goldspot Pens.

Thank you KT for this wealth of information!

How to Choose a Waterproof Pen and Ink for Watercolor

Using watercolor with ink can create beautiful works of art.  The subtle black outlines give structure to watercolor’s hectic nature.  This leads to the question, what pens and ink are best to use with watercolor?  

We will walk you through what makes a good watercolor pen and then review our favorite pens and inks for watercolor work.  Let’s begin!

What Makes for a Great Watercolor Pen and Ink?

So, what makes a pen suitable or unsuitable for working with watercolors?  There are just a few factors that are important to keep in mind when purchasing a pen and ink for watercolor work.

Waterproof

The primary thing you want to look for is whether it’s waterproof.  This should be labeled on the product.  If it’s not labeled waterproof, it’s safe to assume it’s water-soluble.  Water-soluble pens and ink are made with water and will run when used with watercolor.  You want to avoid these and any pens and inks that mention they are water-based.

Pigmented Ink

It may be unclear whether the pen is waterproof.  Check if the pen mentions pigments or pigmented ink.  If it does, the pen and ink is very likely waterproof.  Pigments are little particles of colored materials that do not dissolve in water, so a pen or ink made with them won’t be water-based.

Drying Time

The last factor to consider is how long the pen and ink takes to dry.  You don’t want to apply watercolor before the ink is dried or it may smear.  If you are being safe, you should wait a full 24 hours before using watercolor on your inked paper, but for the most part, waiting an hour or two should be completely fine.  If you like to work quickly, there are fast-drying inks that only take a few minutes.  Keep reading; we recommend our favorite below!

Best Waterproof Pens For Watercolor

Now, what are the best ink pens for use with watercolor?  Let’s take a look at the best waterproof pens.

Uni-Ball Signo Gelstick Pen

Our very first choice for a gel pen to use with watercolors is the Uni-Ball Signo.  It is a waterproof pen that does great with watercolor paint.  It is waterproof and fade-proof.  The lines are straight, thin, and clean.  The Uni-Ball Signo is a great pen that does not create unwanted ink blots or blobs on the paper.

If you are looking for an affordable, beginner option, this is our recommendation.

Sakura Pigma Micron Series

The Sakura Pigma Micron is an expert pen that is a famous option for watercolor work.  This is a fineliner pen so it draws very straight and thin lines that are great for outlines and other work.  The lines are consistent and look great with watercolor.

If you are looking for a good waterproof fineliner pen, the Sakura Pigma Micron is a perfect option for you.

*Best Fineliner Pen

Lamy Safari Fountain Pen

Disposable pens can actually get expensive.  You’re going to be constantly buying replacement pens when your pen runs out of ink, and you can’t buy your own ink (which leaves out the best ink).

We recommend, as an alternative to disposable gel and fineliner pens, using a fountain pen.  A fountain pen allows you to place your very own ink into the pen and resupply with any ink you desire.  This allows for more affordable and better quality ink that you can use for years to come.

The Lamy Safari from Goldspot is one of the best options for beginner fountain pen artists and is very affordable for a high-end fountain pen.  

The Unipin Fine Line

The Unipin Fine Line is a great and fun waterproof pen option, but it has its drawbacks.  We love this pen and it is definitely worth a buy, but unfortunately when using an eraser on the Unipin Fine Line the ink fades and blurs some.  This is a fantastic option if you don’t plan to use any pencil markings that you will need to erase.

Uni-Ball Impact Gel Pen

Impact Uni-ball pen is a second disposable gel pen option that we really enjoyed.  This pen works really well with watercolors, but it does have very thick, broad strokes, so if you like getting in every little detail, you are going to have to draw very large.  Overall, the impact uni-ball has a nice, ergonomic design that makes it a great pen for beginners and people looking for broader ink strokes with their watercolor work.

Fudenosuke Brush Pen

If you aren’t a fan of fineliners or gel pens, you can use a brush pen for your watercolor work!  Tombow’s Fudenosuke is a great option if you want to use a brush pen for watercolor.  This pen draws very nicely and looks great for projects that need varied line-widths like more cartoony or comic work.

Fountain Pen from Kaweco

If you are looking for a reusable fountain pen, the Kaweco Goldspot Pens fountain pen is famous for its smooth lines and efficient use of ink.  This is our top recommendation for a fountain pen to use with watercolor paint.  It is fairly expensive as many of their options are around $100, but you are able to find slightly cheaper options if you search!

Kaweco is a historic brand that produces the highest quality fountain pens.  This pen will last several years to a decade, and you can play around with different colored ink, different textured ink, and have a new tool in your artist tool belt..

Winsor and Newton Fineliner

Winsor and Newton really make wonderful products.  This is their line of fineliner pens, and they all work extraordinarily well with watercolor!  They come in a variety of sizes and colors that you choose straight off their website.

The Winsor and Newton fineliner pen works great with watercolor and is a professional quality fineliner that you won’t be disappointed with.

Pentel Pocket Brush Pen

Try the Pentel Pocket Pen if you are looking for something a tiny bit different to play around with.  This is a high-end waterproof pen.  This watercolor safe brush pen is an awesome little tool to create unique creations with. 

We have found the felt-tip on this brush pen to be very sensitive.  This is both a pro and a con, depending on who you are.  We found it to make the Pentel Pocket Brush Pen extremely expressive and allows for so much control to the artist, but the downside is that it is easier to make mistakes and quickly varies in line-width if you aren't steady.

Faber-Castell Assorted Pens

We love the Faber-Castell assorted Pitt Artist Pen Pack.  Faber-Castell is one of the first fine-writing pen companies that started way back in 1761.  They value craftsmanship and have been producing pens for a very long time.  They call this watercolor safe pen pack, the Pitt Artist Pen.

This set of pens comes with four fineliners and four brush pens, all scaling up in size.  You get to try two types of waterproof pens for your artworks, and eight different sizes.  This is the biggest variation in our list of the best waterproof pens, and a very good options for beginners to try ink with watercolor.

*Variety Pack

Best Ink for Watercolor

You never really know what ink you are getting with many of the waterproof pens above.  If you want the highest quality inks for your watercolor project, look at going right to the supplier and picking up a high quality ink bottle for your artwork.

Platinum Carbon Ink

This ink is one of our favorites.  The Platinum Carbon is a sleek black ink that has a professional texturing and natural design that makes it our top recommendation for a high quality ink.  This permanent waterproof ink is resistant to smudging, fading, water, and anything else you can throw at it.  It works amazing with watercolor, and produces some of the best ink and watercolor art I’ve seen.  If you don’t know which ink is for you, this one is our recommendation.

*Best Overall Ink

De Atramentis Archive Ink

De Atramentis Archive Ink bottle is a truly incredible black waterproof ink.  The color is less textured than the Platinum Carbon ink, but it just may be the most waterproof on this list.  There is seriously no displacement of ink, smearing, or bleeding or any kind with De Atramentis Archive Ink.  It’s like this ink was made for watercolor! 

This is the safest option if you are looking for a perfect waterproof ink, and it is a fast-drying ink that takes barely 5 minutes to be ready for paint to be applied.  You can’t go wrong with De Atramentis Archive Ink.

*Most Waterproof Ink *Fast-Drying Ink

Speedball Super Black India Ink

If you want black black ink, you need to try India Ink.  Most inks are made with several shades of grey and sometimes blues, so if you want the purest black you actually want to go with a high-end India ink.  We proudly recommend the Speedball Super Black India Ink.  This is a solid black waterproof ink that looks really great for strong borders and outline.  It can also do light shading and less pronounced outlines.  This is a great ink, but if you are using it with a fountain pen, you definitely want to wash out and clean your pen routinely as this is a thicker ink.

*Best Pure Black Ink

Sailor Kiwa-Guro

I am a big fan of Sailor, they are a classic company that is very famous for high quality fountain pens, but, even better, they also have one of the nicest inks for writing and drawing, the Sailor Kiwa-Guro.  Unfortunately, I can’t put this ink as one of our top recommendations because it has been reported a couple times that the ink may lose its waterproofness if left for a few months.  This is a very strange phenomena and we can say that it has never happened to us, but because this is focused on waterproof inks, it makes this ink less of a top recommendation.

The Sailor Kiwa-Guro is one of the top inks you can buy and does work with watercolor in our tests, but is a less certain option as it is not advertised as waterproof and may lose it’s waterproof property.

Winsor and Newton Ink

Winsor and Newton are back with a really great ink for beginners to try.  It is a very cute matte solid black ink bottle that I’ve found looks perfect for more cartoon styles or comic styles.  This takes at least 2 hours to dry, but is waterproof and fade-proof when it is dried.

The Winsor and Newton brand is a historic brand that was founded in the early 1800’s.  You can be confident you are getting one of the best inks for watercolor if you get the Winsor and Newton Ink

Finding The Best Pens and Inks for Watercolor

We have gone through a variety of different pens and inks, but the important point is to find your personal favorite that works for your style and personality!  Like with all art supplies, you build a relationship to certain canvases, paints, colors, and pens!  I suggest picking up a few waterproof pens and inks and experimenting to find what works best for you.  Try a brush pen and a fineliner, or a fountain pen.  Apply ink first, then after.  What I love about art is how personal it is, so make your new ink and pen your own!

Watercolor & Ink Sketch by Charlene Collins Freeman

Visit Goldspot Pens and follow their socials on Facebook and Instagram. You’ll be glad that you did!

Online: Painting with Granulating Watercolors

Online: Painting with Granulating Watercolors

Tuesdays 10am - 12:30pm

November 10 - December 15
(6 week workshop)

Online using Zoom.

(For more information about how to use Zoom, click here.)

Discover the magic of painting with granulating watercolor paints! We will explore what granulators are and why they are great for mixing, for backgrounds and for painting subjects such as rust, leather, and moss.

We will not be creating finished paintings in this class but rather studying various granulating paints and painting isolated subjects to understand how to best work with granulating paints.

Participate in creative exercises and build your skills to take your artwork to the next level.

Each of the lessons of our workshop will introduce new exercises and techniques.  You will get a creative workout, but in a relaxed, supportive setting, where experimentation and play are encouraged while techniques and observation are emphasized. 

For suggested art supplies, click here. These are suggestions and you do not need all of these supplies. For our first class, feel free to bring any watercolor supplies you already have on hand plus some granulating watercolor paints and we will take it from there.

For more info and to register, please visit https://charlenecollinsfreeman.com/workshops

L’Inconnue de la Seine

This is my latest pencil drawing, based on a work by Charles Bargue, an artist from the 1800s who created a famous drawing course. After drawing this lovely face I wanted to learn more about the model and I did a bit of research. I found a fascinating backstory. 

L’Inconnue de la Seine 

Nobody knows what her name was, her age, nor her background. We don’t know how her life brought her to Paris, and left her drowned in the River Seine. But when her lifeless body was pulled our from the murky waters of the Seine River at the Quai du Louvre in Paris around the late 1880s, she became known as L'Inconnue de la Seine (the unknown woman of the Seine). 

L'Inconnue, who is estimated to have been about 16 years old when she died, had no marks on her body, and many concluded she took her own life. She was transported to the Paris mortuary, and put on public display alongside the bodies of other unknown dead, for the purpose of identification. This grisly parade of nameless corpses was a popular diversion in its day. Despite the crowds, nobody came forward to say they recognized L'Inconnue. 

Although she remained unclaimed, the loveliness of her expression inspired an attendant at the mortuary, who – so the story goes – was so transfixed by her, he ordered a plaster cast to be made of her face. Before long, L'Inconnue's alluring, deathly likeness was reproduced and sold in souvenir shops across France, then Germany, Europe and in North America. 

The mask of this unknown girl became a cultural icon. In time, L'Inconnue's frozen half-smile rested on mantels and hung in drawing rooms all over the continent. She was positioned in artists' workshops, gazed upon as a muse, and inspired thousands of artworks and literary works. Her mask embodied an ideal of beauty for generations. Albert Camus and others compared her enigmatic smile to that of the Mona Lisa, inviting numerous speculations as to what clues the expression in her face could offer about her life and her death. L’Inconnue became a muse for artists, poets and other writers, among them Pablo Picasso, Man Ray, Rainer Maria Rilke and Vladimir Nabokov.

Half a century after this explosion of fame and fascination, L’Inconnue transformed into something else again, Her face was used to create Rescue Anne, the mannequin that is still used today to teach CPR. Rescue Anne is considered to be the first and most successful 'patient simulator' ever – responsible for helping hundreds of millions of people learn the basics of how to save a life with CPR.

Charles Bargue (c. 1826/1827 – April 6, 1883), who is mostly remembered for his Cours de dessin, one of the most influential classical drawing courses (conceived in collaboration with Jean-Léon Gérôme), created this beautiful drawing from her plaster cast. And thousands of students have copied Bargue’s version of L’Inconnue since then.  Here is Charles Bargue’s drawing.

She has been an enigmatic figure for me too, and I have thoroughly enjoyed the beauty and mystery her face have inspired. Like thousands of other artists, I too have drawn a copy of Charles Bargue’s rendering of her face. The process of creating this drawing over many hours has made me feel connected to the young woman, to history, to artists, and to humanity.

L'Inconnue's remains are thought to have been disposed of in an unmarked pauper's grave, and police records from the era make no mention of this mysterious girl.

In a studio called L'Atelier Lorenzi (https://www.atelierlorenzi.com) in Arcueil, France they still make plaster death masks from a 19th-century mold, which is said to be that of L'Inconnue de la Seine.

Art with a Spark!

I am proud to be involved with SilverKite's SPARK Boxes project. SPARK Boxes are arts engagement toolkits specifically designed for older adults and their care partners.  Each box contains supplies, instruction cards, and conversation starters to SPARK creativity and connection. 

I was approached by Dr. Jen Kulik, founder of SilverKite, to be a contributing artist on this endeavor. For the past 20 years Jen has designed and facilitated arts programs at schools, theater companies, NGOs, and social service organizations. Jen specializes in intergenerational and cross-cultural relationship building through the arts.

Each SPARK Box is designed around a theme.  This inaugural SPARK box uses the theme of "nature" in its design, activities and conversation SPARKs, and arts supplies.

My painting, The Naturalist, is printed on the inside of the box! And I created several of the art activities included in this inaugural SPARK box. 

To order some boxes for all the older adults you love, click on here. Spread the joy and spark some creativity!

Getting your drawing onto your watercolor paper

Getting your drawing onto your watercolor paper

There are many ways artists get their drawing onto their watercolor paper. Don’t worry if you don’t have amazing drawing chops. There are a lot of ways of getting your drawing done and none of them are “cheating.” Artist have always used whatever means and technology have been available to them to create art. 

How detailed a drawing needs to be depends on how detailed you want your painting to be. You don’t have to start a painting with a drawing at all. You can begin with a clean sheet of watercolor paper and just paint. This method is called direct watercolor painting. It’s great for a loose watercolor painting. When I want to paint a painting with some general shapes and details, I do a loose drawing. And when I want to create a detailed painting, I start with a detailed drawing.

Ways to transfer your drawing to your watercolor paper

Don’t jump in drawing, erasing and figuring out your drawing on your watercolor paper on the fly.  Good watercolor paper should be treated well. Watercolor paper is treated to accept water and paint but it is not an ideal drawing surface. If you press your pencil too hard, you will carve into your paper. As a result, when you start painting, the watercolor will pool in those indents and show up darker than in other areas of your paper. If you use a hard eraser, it could scuff up the surface of the paper. That too will likely show up when you start painting. So always keep your pencil lines light and use a kneaded eraser. The light pencil lines won’t create dents or grooves on the paper’s surface and the kneaded eraser won’t scuff up the finish on the paper.

Here are some methods for getting a drawing onto your watercolor paper.

Drawing Directly on the Watercolor Paper

If you are a good drawer then you can draw directly onto your watercolor paper. Do take care not to damage the paper with too much erasing and redrawing. For this reason many artists who aren’t comfortable drawing freehand prefer other methods. Even very competent drawers will use a different way to get their drawing onto the watercolor paper if the painting they want to create is hyper realistic, very detailed, or quite time consuming to draw freehand.

The Grid Method 

The grid method has been used for centuries and even the Old Masters relied on it for accuracy and perspective. Draw the grid on both the reference image and your watercolor paper. Once your grids are in place, create your drawing by re-creating the line work you see in each square of your reference image onto each corresponding square on your watercolor paper. Square by square you can copy the entire drawing fairly accurately. You can also scale up or down between your reference image and your watercolor paper by scaling your grids proportionately. When you are done drawing, you will need to erase the grid lines on your watercolor sheet before painting. There are even apps that create the grid on your photo for you. That saves time as you don’t have to create the grid on your photo reference but you will still have to recreate the grid proportionally on your watercolor paper. This is my least preferred way of drawing. You spend a lot of time drawing and erasing grid lines. It’s mind numbing and can be a bit hard on the paper.

Tracing 

Another option is to trace your reference image onto your watercolor paper. This requires that your reference image be the same size as your painting will be. You can tape your reference image on a well lit window, tape your watercolor paper on top of it, and trace. Or you can tape your reference image to a light table, tape your watercolor paper on top of it and trace. If instead of a window you are using a light table, you will be able to see more of the image if you darken the room you are in.

Tracing works if you are using 140 lb paper but 300 lb paper is just too thick to see through, even on a light table. 

Graphite Paper

Graphite paper is coated on one side with a smooth layer of graphite. It comes in sheets ronin a roll and you tear off the size of sheet you need. A sheet of graphite paper can be used quite a few times before it runs out of graphite and needs to be replaced.

Place your watercolor paper on your table. Place the graphite paper coated side down on the watercolor paper. Tape your drawing right-side-up on top of the graphite paper. .Use a hard lead pencil (H or HB, for example) to trace the drawing. You will draw right on your reference photo. The pressure from your pencil will transfer the graphite on the graphite paper onto the watercolor paper. When you’re finished tracing, simply remove the reference image and graphite paper. 

There are a few drawbacks: I find that wherever I rest my hand as I draw tends to leave a smudge of graphite on the watercolor paper and as my hand works across the drawing, that can create for a lot of smudging. The other drawback is that the graphite from this paper does not erase easily so if my drawing is darker than I had hoped for, I’m kind of stuck with it. However, this Loew-Cornell transfer paper is not as problematic and if you choose to use graphite paper (transfer paper) I recommend this brand. It comes in white and in gray. The white is for drawing onto colored paper so you will want to get the gray to draw onto watercolor paper. Each graphite sheet can be used many times.

Tracing Paper

This is an approach best suited for less detailed drawings. Use a piece of tracing paper to trace your reference image. Once you are done tracing, flip the tracing paper over and use a graphite pencil to completely cover the back of the line drawing. Then turn the tracing paper the right way up and place it onto your watercolor paper. Trace over the lines once again so that the pressure from this second tracing transfers the graphite on the back of the tracing paper to your watercolor sheet.

Use a Projector

When I need an accurate drawing for a detailed painting, I use a projector. It saves time and allows me to create a clean drawing. I plug the projector into my laptop, where I keep my photos, and it projects onto the wall. By adjusting the projector, the image can be scaled to different sizes, allowing me to control the size and composition of my drawing.   

Using a projector seems to be controversial for some artists. They feel that using a projector is “cheating,” and by using it an artist is no longer drawing. I disagree. I have given students the same photo to draw using a projector and no two drawings turned out the same. No one copies the projected information in the same way. What might initially seem like an easy way to draw, can actually complicate your process because it is easy to get lost in all of the information and draw too much. Drawings can end up looking like squiggly jigsaw puzzles of confusing pencil lines. 

Without some drawing skills, using a projector can be overwhelming. Drawing up close and in the dark is another challenge artists must master with this system. Like anything else, it takes practice. However, using a projector helps train your eye and makes your freehand drawing better over time.

Don’t turn away from using a projector for composition, accuracy and scale. For detailed paintings, the projector can be a great tool. 

Research has shown that the Old Masters used forms of projection as well. A wonderful book by David Hockney, titled Secret Knowledge: Rediscovering the Lost Techniques of the Old Masters, explains how they did it. It confirms the use of optical tools to gain perspective and realism and debunks the myth that everything was done freehand. ,

You have to decide as an artist whether a method or tool is right for you. If you can’t get over the feeling that it’s cheating, don’t use it. Artists reflect their personality and personal feelings through their art, so be honest with your methods, and do what feels right for you. But also, don’t come up with arbitrary “rules” as a way of throwing stones on your own path.

Online Watercolor for Beginners for Adults & Teens

I am offering Online Watercolor for Beginners for Adults & Teens this fall.

Online using Zoom.

Saturdays 10am - 12:00pm (Pacific Time)

October 10 - November 14

$180

Discover the magic of watercolor painting! Learn about watercolor paper, paints, brushes, and how to paint in a fun, nurturing atmosphere. Learn to see like an artist, develop basic drawing and brushstroke skills. Discover the value of light and shadow to add drama to your paintings!

Participate in creative exercises and build your skills to take your artwork to the next level.

Each of the lessons of our workshop will introduce new ideas and exercises, and techniques.  You will get a creative workout, but in a relaxed, supportive setting, where experimentation and play are encouraged while techniques and observation are emphasized. 

For suggested art supplies, click here. These are suggestions and you do not need all of these supplies. For our first class, feel free to bring any watercolor supplies you already have on hand and we will take it from there. Also, please buy this lovely book, Everyday Watercolor by Jenna Rainey.

All skill levels welcome. 

Register at https://charlenecollinsfreeman.com/workshops

Online: Classical Drawing and Charles Bargue

I will be offering my favorite drawing course, the Charles Bargue Classical Drawing series!

Classical Drawing for Adults & Teens 15+

$125.00/month

Mondays 11am - 1pm

Online using Zoom.

(For more information about how to use Zoom, click here.)

Classes run from September to May. You can join at any time and you can register for classes month to month. You can stop and start up again as your schedule allows.

This class will build a solid foundation of drawing skills to strengthen your ability to draw using classical drawing methods and resource materials. This course is based on the famous drawing course by Charles Brague. Students start off copying drawings by Charles Brague using classical drawing techniques, then draw from plaster casts and finally draw from live models. Among the artists who studied drawing based on Bargue's work are Pablo Picasso and Vincent van Gogh. So you will be in good company!

Students will be guided step-by-step through drawings each week. A supply list will be provided upon registration.

For suggested art supplies, click here and scroll to the section on Drawing Supplies for Adults.

Intermediate & Advanced Skill Levels.

The classical way to learn how to draw realistically as it used to be taught in art academies and ateliers was based on first copying two dimensional references, then drawing from plaster casts, and finally, drawing from life. That's the method I will use in this workshop 

Since the 19th century ateliers have often used drawings by Charles Bargue as the references to be copied.

The lessons learned from the Bargue exercises extend far beyond learning how to draw. They teach greater skills, such as how to actively observe the world and how to complete a project with painstaking accuracy, leading students to become competent and confident in their work, whether that work is drawing, painting, or something else entirely.

From The Bargue Method: Learning to Draw the Traditional Way by Fernando Freitas, The Drawing Magazine, Fall 2013

The Bargue Drawing method emphasizes copying the references as perfectly as possible. This teaches artists to see distances, lengths and angles as well as some seeing and depicting the light. The references are gorgeous and build up skills in a logical way.

Below are some of the Charles Bargue images we will use in this drawing class. And here is the entire article that ran in The Drawing Magazine about this very method of learning to draw. To register for the class, click here.

Online Drawing Workshop: Learning from Leonardo da Vinci

Online Drawing Workshop: Learning from Leonardo da Vinci for Adults & Teens 15 +

Online using Zoom.

(For more information about how to use Zoom, click here.)

Thursdays 10am - 11:30am (Pacific Time)

September 10 - October 15

All skill levels welcome. 

$150

Drawing is the foundation of the visual arts and anyone can learn to draw! This class will build a solid foundation of drawing skills to strengthen your ability to express your creativity!

Copying old masters' drawings is a time-tested discipline. The experience of copying from master artists, not only exposes students to classical drawing techniques, but also to the masters' thinking process. You can also learn how the artist developed an idea from beginning to end. To reap this benefit, however, you can't just engage in mindless copying. 

In this drawing class we will  explore why the artist did this or that, and why it works. If you can pinpoint specific strategies used in the drawings, then you can transfer these techniques to your own drawings. It's a fun way to learn about Leonardo da Vinci and to improve your own drawing skills.

For suggested art supplies, click here. In addition to the supplies, please purchase the book The Leonardo da Vinci Sketchbook.

Register at  https://charlenecollinsfreeman.com/workshops

Working with masking fluid

What is masking fluid?

Masking fluid, also known as liquid frisket, is a liquid latex-based product that is very effective at keeping small areas and thin lines white when painting on watercolor paper. The liquid latex prevents the paint from reaching the paper. When the artist is done painting, the masking fluid is peeled off to expose the white paper left untouched.

Artists use it to preserve areas of paper that they don’t want to paint. If a shape is large, we can easily paint around it and wouldn’t use masking fluid, but if a shape is small, such as reflections in glass or whiskers on a cat, by applying masking fluid first we protect those shapes from being painted. In essence we are sealing that shape of paper with this gummy mask. When artists are done painting, they can lift off the masking fluid (with their finger or a rubber cement remover) and the whites of the paper will show brightly.

There are a lot of brands of masking fluid. Most dry clear or with a slightly yellow hue but it is also sold in blue and orange and brighter yellow as some artists prefer to be able to see where it has been applied on their painting. I prefer the clear or slightly colored masking fluid as I find that the brighter ones can throw off my color choices as I paint.

My favorites masking materials and tools include:

Masking fluid is by Pébéo and the Incredible White Mask

I also really like these masking fluid markers: the Molotow GRAFX Masking Fluid Pump Marker, 2mm and the Pebeo Drawing Gum Marker .7mm-Natural Latex, 0,7 mm

As for tools for applying masking fluid I prefer these COMIART Double Head Clay Shapers  and these FASHIONROAD Art Ruling Pens in addition to a few cheap brushes.

Rubber Cement Pick-up (handy for removing mask)

When do you use masking fluid?

You use masking fluid in two ways: to preserve the pure white of your watercolor paper for light highlights or to preserve a shape that has already painted in an area where you want to darken around that shape, such as a light blue highlight in a dark blue marble for example.

When you mask on top of colors, just know that there’s always a chance that the painted color might lift off a bit when you remove the masking. 

Masking fluid dries out quickly. It will start gumming up even as you are using it which makes applying it tricky. 

Tips for working with masking fluid:

Never ever apply masking fluid to paper or paint that is wet or even slightly damp. If you do, you will not be able to get that masking fluid off of your paper. The latex, water and paper bond and the masking will end up sticking to your paper, looking like gummy bumps, and will continue to yellow in time. Apply masking fluid only to paper and painted areas that are 100% dry.

Try out different tools for applying the masking fluid, especially if crisp edges and precise shapes are important for your subject. Artists use ruling pens, skewers, embossing stylus and anything else they can think of to apply masking fluid. And of course brushes. Don’t be casual about applying the masking fluid. It creates very visible hard edges against your paint and softening edges or mistakes is difficult at best.

Always use a cheap brush if you are masking with a brush. Once that latex gets into the bristles of a brush, it will definitely be ruined. 

No matter which tool you use to apply the masking fluid, keep it clean as the masking will start to gum up on the tip of your brush or other tool quickly, making precise work difficult if not impossible. Keep a cup of water with some dish soap in it and dip your tool into that water between masking strokes as needed. When I use a brush,I work a bit of dish soap into the bristles and dip straight into masking without rinsing out the soap. This seems to keep the masking from gumming up as quickly and buys me more time in applying the fluid evenly.

Do not shake your bottle of masking fluid. Even though some bottles direct you to shake it, don’t. Shaking it makes all the little particles of latex latch onto each other and the masking fluid will quickly become one big ball of gummy unusable latex. Instead, tilt your bottle gently upside down just one or two times before using.

Cocktail, 27 x 36 in. / 69 x 91 cm.

Never never try to remove masking fluid unless the masking fluid, the paper and the paint are 100% dry. It’s a bit tricky to know when the masking is dry because it remains tacky to the touch even when it is dry. How long masking takes to dry depends on several variables: how thickly you applied it, how humid or dry the room is that you are painting in, and the temperature. The hotter, the dryer and the thinner your application, the more quickly the mask will dry. Give it at least 20 minutes but longer if you applied it thickly or you are working in humid or cooler conditions.

Remove the masking fluid within a week or two. The longer you leave it on your paper, the harder it can be to take off. If you used one of the colored masking fluids, the more likely they might tint your paper permanently. I’ve had students who discovered their paper was tinted blue or orange, depending on the color of the mask they used, even if they removed it within a few days.

Air will cause masking fluid to dry out quickly so if you have a lot of masking to do, pour out a small amount into a bowl and close the bottle to keep your entire stash from from drying out. When you store the masking fluid in your studio, make sure the top is secure and flip the masking fluid container upside down. Store it upside down, preventing air from reaching the lid of the container while being stored and thus slowing down the drying out process.

If you get masking fluid somewhere where you don’t want it (another area of your painting, your clothing, carpet, furniture…), do not try to clean it up while it is still wet. DO NOT use water to try to clean it up. Let it dry out completely. Then just pull it off the surface. It will come right off.

Original/Classic, 24 x 36 in. / 61 x 91 cm.

Masking fluid does get old. If it is no longer fluid enough to use, don’t add water to it to try to make it more fluid. While yes, adding water will liquify it again briefly, it is also going to dilute the effectiveness of the masking fluid and will likely glue itself to your paper. Even if you manage to peel it off your paper you will likely find that diluting it made it too porous to keep all the paint from working its way to the paper. You’ll likely ruin your painting. Just toss out old masking fluid and get yourself a fresh bottle.

Masking fluid creates very sharp edges around the shapes you mask. Many artists don’t use masking for this reason. If you don’t want sharp edges and if the shape is not too small, you can soften the edges with a damp brush (but it is a lot of work). If the shape you want to preserve is big enough to paint around without masking, I recommend not masking. If the shapes are too small to paint around or we want to paint in layers and it would be too tedious to paint around specific shapes multiple times, then masking fluid is a good solution.

Final tip: never apply or remove masking fluid unless your paper, you paint and the masking fluid are 100% dry. I know I’ve said this already. It bears repeating.

Masking fluid is great for preserving the white of the paper as well as preserving light colors. These saved light shapes can add sparkle, interest and depth to our paintings. Like all techniques, it takes practice to get comfortable with using masking. Don’t panic if it doesn’t look the way you had hoped. Get familiar with masking and different ways to apply it before using it on a painting.

Below is a video I made exploring different masking fluids and various tools for applying it.

Lovers at Sea, 30 x 22 in. / 76 x 56 cm.

Winter Bird, 19 x 14 in. / 48 x 36 cm.



Online: Painting Glass in Watercolors

I’m really excited about my newest upcoming workshop: Painting Glass in Watercolors.

Come join me this fall online, using Zoom!

Tuesdays 10am - 12:30pm (Pacific Time)

September 8 - October 27 

$250

Online using Zoom.

(For more information about how to use Zoom, click here.)

Watercolors are naturally vibrant and translucent making glass a perfect subject! Come join me for this workshop to learn techniques and approaches for painting glass. Looking at light, color and contrast, I will guide you through two paintings of glass subjects using the attached photo references.

We will study glazing (painting in layers), hard and soft edges, painting wet on dry and wet into wet, lifting, and masking. 

For more information and to register please visit 

www.charlenecollinsfreeman.com/workshops/

Student Brag

Student brag alert!

Here are just a few of the drawings produced by students from my online drawing class. Some of these students have been drawing for years and some are complete beginners. 

I have to do this student brag about their work! Beautiful work and being creative during these difficult times can be a challenge. It can also be a life saver.

Well done to all my students!

#studentart #studentdrawingworkshops #studentdrawings#graphitedrawing #ilovemyjob #livecreatively

Understanding Watercolor Supplies

One of the best things about being an artist is exploring art supplies. But if you don't know what you are looking for, it can be overwhelming.

I spend a lot of time answering questions about art supplies in my watercolor workshops so I decided to put together this video to cover basic information about: watercolor paper, watercolor brushes, palettes, watercolor paints and some miscellaneous studio supplies I use all the time.

For a list of my personal favorite watercolor supplies, click here.

In the video, I reference a PDF document available for free download on www.dickblick.com. The PDF describes brush shapes and uses and you can download it here.

I hope you find this information helpful and I wish you happy painting!

My favorite watercolor brushes!

If you've taken a workshop with me then you know how much I love my Black Gold 311 series paint brushes.

Yes! I have found The Brush Guys!

Before you go running off to buy your brushes, let me share a little bit more. Their website is a bit clunky. Not slick and easy to navigate but that slight inconvenience is offset by their awesome prices. 

Hopefully these instructions will make it easier to figure out what is what. Once you click on The Brush Guys, you could easily get lost in the sea of brushes they sell. If you want to explore your options, please do. But if you want to get right to the brushes I love, click on this link and you will be taken to a long list of Black Gold brushes. The ones I recommend are the Black Gold 311 Quill brushes so be sure you scroll all the Black Gold brushes they offer until you find the Black Gold 311 Quill brushes. They are available in six different sizes.

Add the brushes you want by clicking on the empty box next to each brush and typing in the number of brushes you want in that size. Then click on "Add to Cart." This is a list of the brushes, sizes and their awesome prices!

Once you've added them to your cart, you will need to select which State they will ship to. From there, you will input your payment information and click on "Purchase." When you finally click on "purchase" it may not look like anything has happened. (I found this confusing because usually when you purchase something online it takes you to a "Thank you for your order" page but this doesn't.)

Leave their website open until you get an email that confirms your purchase (it takes about a minute or two). Once you get the email confirmation, go ahead and close the  The Brush Guys website.

Sit back with satisfaction knowing you got a good brush at a great price.

You're welcome!

Online Painting Birds in Watercolor

Whether you are an artist who wants to connect more with nature, or a nature lover who wants to do art, come geek out about birds with me in my upcoming online workshop, Painting Birds in Watercolor.

PAINTING BIRDS IN WATERCOLOR
ADULTS & TEENS 15 +
CHARLENE COLLINS FREEMAN

Saturdays 10am - 12pm

July 11 - August 29

Online using Zoom.

$225

Learn about birds and how to paint them with convincing form and color. We will work from reference photos and explore the basics of bird anatomy, proportions and features.

We will learn how to use the qualities of watercolors to create beautiful paintings. We will look at how to figure out which details to focus on and paint realistically and which features can be represented more loosely. 

For more information and to register, please visit https://charlenecollinsfreeman.com/workshops

Online Figure Drawing Atelier for Adults & Teens

Come join me for a summer workshop drawing the figure!

Online Figure Drawing Atelier for Adults & Teens

Online using Zoom.

Mondays 11am - 12:30pm (Pacific Time)

July & August

$125/month

This workshop is based on the instruction sketchbook by Juliette Aristides, Figure Drawing Atelier.

Figure Drawing Atelier offers a comprehensive, contemporary take on the traditional methods and techniques needed to successfully draw and ultimately paint the figure.

This workshop offers art instruction, critiques and exercises beyond what is presented in the book with practical and progressive lessons on drawing the figure.

Sign up for one month or both.

All skill levels welcome. 

More information and to register visit https://charlenecollinsfreeman.com/workshops

Nathalie

Nathalie is a watercolor portrait I did of my friend, Nathalie. It is based on a black and white photographer her boyfriend took of her while on vacation in southern Italy.

20 x 15 in. / 50 x 38 cm.

Painted on 300 lbs Arches Cold Press Watercolor Paper.

All watercolors are Daniel Smith brand and include:

Yellow Hansa Light
Yellow Ochre
Alizarin Crimson
Burnt Sienna
Van Dyck Brown
Manganese Blue Hue
French Ultramarine Blue
Sap Green
Green Gold

Painted on 300lb Arches Cold Press Watercolor Paper

I created a video of my process. If you would like to see how I created this painting, click on the video. I hope you enjoy!

Learning new art forms

It’s a strange time when most of us are running around far less than usual but also struggling more to find the focus to work on art. I’ve been painting and drawing and shifted several of the workshops I teach to online platforms. Yet I have felt a heaviness through it all.

I decided it was time to lighten up. Time to learn something new for the sheer joy of it.

Yesterday I took an online class on needle felting from Cloud 9 Art School’s Laurie Kathleen Clark. We made cute little chickadees!

I had never made anything out of wool or felting before yesterday. It was very fun and magical: you could make just about anything from a handful of wool and a felting needle!

I spent the better part of the day in a Zoom class in the delightful company of women, with the talented Laurie leading us through this joyful little project.

Thank you Laurie and fellow welters. What a great day!

Looking forward to more needle felting fun!

PS Laurie has upcoming workshops on needle felting bees and ladybugs, open to kids, teens and adults! Check out https://www.cloud9artschool.com/youth-classes I’ll be there!

Online Workshop: Pursuing Art as a Career

Online Workshop: Pursuing Art as a Career

Thursdays 10am- 12pm

May 7, 14, 21 & 28

$150

Designed to help artists answer questions about how to turn their passion into a career.

Week 1
How do I pursue my passion for art beyond a hobby?
How do I get clear about what I want to do with my art and set goals?
How do I resist procrastinating?
What are career options for artists?

Week 2
Creating an online presence: why and how
Social media 101
What goes into an artist’s website?

Week 3
How to grow an art career: learn how to promote yourself
Elevator speeches
How do I write an artist’s statement?
An artist’s bio?
An artist’s resume?
What is the difference between these and why do I need them?

Week 4
Do I need to register a business name?
Do I need insurance?
Should I enter shows?
Donate art?
Work for free?
Apply for grants?
Create an Etsy shop?

It's a myth that artists can just create great work until they get discovered to have a career in the arts. 

This workshop sheds light on the the business side of being an artist and builds your knowledge to take your artwork to the next level. 

I will share information about my journey and advice from successful professional artists. We will have hands on exercises to move your art career forward.

Our class will meet online using Zoom. Zoom is free and you do not need to make an account to attend a meeting (class). I will send you a link with a password before every session.

Register at https://charlenecollinsfreeman.com/workshops

Online Drawing: Lessons in Classical Drawing

ONLINE DRAWING: LESSONS IN CLASSICAL DRAWING
Based on Juliette Aristides’ book lessons in classical drawing
CHARLENE COLLINS FREEMAN

Mondays 11am - 12:30pm

May 4, 11, 18, 25

June 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29

$125/month

We will use Lessons in Classical Drawing: Essential Techniques from Inside the Atelier by Juliette Aristides for this online class. This class will run May and June. You can register for just May, for just June or for both months as we work our way through the book.

With this elegant and inspiring book, we will break down the drawing process into small, manageable lessons; introducing time-tested principles and techniques that are easily accessible. Our goal will be to better understand the artistic process and create well-crafted drawings.

All skill levels welcome. 

For suggested art supplies, click here. Please be sure to buy a copy of the book Lessons in Classical Drawing: Essential Techniques from Inside the Atelier by Juliette Aristides for the class.

Our class will meet online using Zoom. Zoom is free and you do not need to make an account to attend a meeting (class). I will send you a link with a password before every session.

For more information and to register please visit www.charlenecollinsfreeman.com/workshops/

Sailing Sardegna

Sailing Sardegna is a watercolor portrait I did of my brother, based on a photo I took of him during a sailing trip we took several years ago. We sailed from Sardegna, Italy to Corsica, France.

22 x 15 in. / 50 x 38 cm.

All watercolors are Daniel Smith brand and include:

Phthalo Blue
Prussian Blue
French Ultramarine Blue
Alizarin Crimson
Yellow Ochre
Hansa Yellow Light
Neutral Tint

Painted on 300lb Arches Cold Press Watercolor Paper

I created a video of my process. If you would like to see how I created this painting, click on the video. I hope you enjoy!