"Prickly Pear Cactus"
by Lee Gordon Seebach
Chinese White
"What the heck is that?" you may well ask. Good question!
Here's the answer: It is a semi-opaque watercolor white (actually Zinc white). It can be mixed with transparent watercolor to achieve various colors and degrees of opacity. I used it here to illustrate the spines on the cactus with a brush called a "rigger." The hair of this brush is long, thin, and does not taper to a fine point. Therefore, it holds a fair amount of pigment and is capable of creating nice, long lines. It's also a very fun brush to use and it's very, very easy to get carried away with it. Painting in the lines on this picture, I was dangerously close to doing just that!
Lifting
There's another technique I used here. It's called "lifting." This is accomplished by using a "flat" brush, which has a squared end (like a housepainter's brush only much smaller). Using a flat that is damp, it is applied edge-on to the paper on a painted, dried area and then run along the paper sideways. This re-wets the pigment and soaks it up into the brush, like a sponge, creating a lighter, long, soft-edged line. Hmmm...I hope that makes sense...maybe it requires a video demonstration. But I think you get the idea.
I hope you enjoyed seeing this watercolor and learning a bit about how us mysterious artist-types create our nice pictures.
Have a stupendous day, wherever you are on our beautiful planet! 😀 ☮️ ❤️
My website: Seebach Fine Art
Having seen the version in ink a couple of days ago, I think this version is great to. Especially the "glazing" of the colors.
I very much enjoy looking at your work!
You're very kind @rolf-bakker ! I appreciate it!!
I like the colors in this piece of art. Thanks for sharing
@dim753 Glad you like it. Thanks for commenting.
You're welcome chess, i like your art you have a great talent
Your paintings are always full of such vibrancy and movement. Absolutely lovely. I am in awe of watercolor paintings since there is so little room for error, at least with oils you can paint over any mistakes.
@whistlejacket Nice of you to say so. Yes, watercolors are a challenge alright. It's been called "the master's medium" for that reason.
I hate captus, because the look like dangerous and too much pins :P
I don't think you'd like the desert much, then. 😉
Gorgeous painting yet again, haha! Thanks for sharing these interesting techniques with us, by the way!
@deadspace Thank you and you're welcome. Steemit is a great place to post my images and info.
Didn't even know that "rigger" or "lifting" exist in our world.
Oh well you learn everyday.
Another day older and another day wiser! @yaan Thanks for commenting.
tasty spikes :)
Ha ha...fun to paint! @liberate
Cactus ! !
Very Nicely Painted Sir.
Thank you my friend @being-human I've spent a lot of time in the desert!
"This re-wets the pigment and soaks it up into the brush, like a sponge, creating a lighter, long, soft-edged line" had no idea of techniques like that!
Pretty cool, huh? LOL Thanks for commenting. @steemboys
Youre welcome, and yeah finally half of your upvote power :)
Welcome to Steemit...looks like you have an interesting blog started...followed!
Good to see again excellent art
Thanks bro @sapan