Flint's Advice for Watercolor Procedure

In his book called "Water-Colour for Beginners" Francis Russell Flint (1915-1977) starts a picture with large flat washes in just four colors: cobalt blue, light red, French ultramarine, and burnt sienna.

In the top image, he first drew the outline of the mountains. He painted the sky in pure cobalt blue with a large sable brush. Then he lifted the painting off the easel to let the color run to the top of the sky. He continued by painting the silhouette of the mountains in light red.

In the bottom image, he notes: 

"SKY: Using a slightly blue mixture of light red and cobalt blue and a large sable brush, paint the suggestion of clouds, darkest at the top. Dry. Then give the whole sky a third wash of light red and cobalt blue, using plenty of water, especially at the bottom of the sky. Leave a small part of the first wash visible above the hills on the right-hand side. Dry."

"HILLS: Using medium-size brush with pure burnt sienna, paint in middle tones over certain areas to give strength, warmth, and a feeling of solidarity. A new range of hills in the distance is introduced by carrying the burnt sienna over the original hill outline. The hills are low in tone and give added distance to the picture. Dry."  

Francis Russell Flint (1915-1977) was the son of the more famous watercolorist Sir William Russell Flint (above).

Previously: Flint's Watercolor Sketching Gear
Get the blog on your iOs device using this free app