Kate Wade
Demonstration - "Watercolour-based Mixed Media"
Tuesday 12th May, 2.00 - 4.00pm in the Pavilion
Kate delivered a confident and professional demonstration to an audience of around 30 members and guests.
The finished painting. Photograph by Robert Marchant
Short Report
Kate's demonstration used masking fluid, waterproof acrylic ink, watercolour paint, ordinary graphite pencils and gouache on 300gm Bockingford NOT paper.
The masking fluid was spattered on with a toothbrush, any excess removed with blotting paper, and then left to completely dry. The acrylic ink was first applied as quick strokes and then to paint leaves (using the side of various sized brushes) and finally some spatter. It was used for areas which would not be changed but could be painted over with watercolour and still seen.
Cobalt and Burnt Sienna watercolour were used for the sky and applied very wet. Yellow and Hookers Green watercolour were used for the field and knocked back with Burnt Sienna as necessary. Sandpaper was used lightly to roughen the paper (vertical strokes) very successfully to get the grass effect. It can also be used for sea, beach and rocks as a quick way of adding texture but don't overdo it. The foliage was built up with wet watercolour carefully mixed to give colour interest.
The fence post was painted with Yellow Ochre, Burnt Sienna, Raw Sienna and Cobalt watercolour. The twigs were added with coloured graphite pencil and not watercolour pencil which would dissolve when painted over. Finally gouache was used for the wires (black plus white so grey) with pencil under for a convincing shadow effect.
Martyn Worman
Some photographs of the demonstration:
About Kate (from her website):
"I love the colours of nature, from the subtle ones with no name that you find in a winter hedgerow, to the luminous green of spring leaves or the powder blue of an evening sky.
As a landscape painter lucky enough to live in Wiltshire, I have access to incredibly beautiful countryside that provides me with a wealth of inspiration for painting and drawing. The briefest walk outside can spark ideas for composition, colour and most importantly, atmosphere, a key element that I aim to include in my work.
Sketching in location to capture the perspective and dimensions of a view, I use this information, together with photographs and notes, to complete paintings in my studio. Some ideas need different materials to be realised fully, and drawn elements are often included to give structure to a painting. These elements can become buried in translucent layers of colour but form an integral part of my process."
See Kate's work on her website