Free your creative spirit by Caroline Tate

free your creative spirit
a brief look at painting
by Caroline Tate

EVERYONE CAN PAINT!
it only takes.......some water and some colour!
materials I use:
    a box of artists quality watercolours: best value (and quality) are the St Petersburg ones which are available in different sizes from www.stpetersburgwatercolours.com If you have to go to a shop the cheapest will be Cotman boxes but they are not so long lasting or so vibrant.
You could get student or Georgian colours which are cheap, but not so strong or gorgeous!

    watercolour paper: weight is important, nothing less than 140 lbs. There is now 200 lb paper which I use and it makes a huge difference.

    brushes: nothing expensive. don’t bother with sable or anything fancy…get Prolene brushes. the BIGGER THE BETTER. size 6, 8, 10 or much bigger! get a great square ended one.

extras:	2 jars of water
	tissues, or loo paper
	cotton wool
	pencil: HB or 2B.
	if possible some ground sea salt from supermarket
	and a piece of white candle

THEN
FORGET EVERYTHING YOU HAVE EVER HEARD ABOUT WHAT YOU SHOULD DO, AND JUST START PLAYING. DAMPENING THE PAPER (KEEP IT SLIGHTLY TILTED SO THE WATER TRICKLES DOWN) DON’T SOAK IT.
THEN RUN PAINT ACROSS.
THAT’S IT.
For the salt effect, just drop some ground sea salt into damp paint. wait around 15 minutes for a brilliant effect. For a special effect using candle: put a line of the candle, pressing hard on dry paper, then paint over the top.

enjoy!

for other hints on special effects or to have some tuition in watercolours or acrylics please contact me