Watching Alvaro Castagnet paint Cadeques (spain)

Notes from Alvaro Castagne Painting in Spain:


Brushes:
Alvaro actually has his own brand of brushes. (Squirrel and Kolinsky)
He also uses this signature rigger. You can find his brushes here:
http://www.alvarocastagnet.net/products/brushes/

Paper:
He uses Arches and Saunders paper and is a fan of rough surface.

Staple Colors:
Ultramarine blue

CobaltCerulean(coolest)
Alz Crimson

Cad red light
Burn Sienna
Yellow Orche

Extra:
Turquoise( Special washes)

Important Notes and Tips:

1. He uses the layering approach of Tea, Milk, Honey. ( wait for the layers to dry)
2. Plans your complementary colors into your washes.
3. Simplify things, study the warm and cool relationship instead of matching chroma
4. Design your focus and stick with it
5. Unify your shadow shapes and connect them.
6. Painting is an illusion, exercise your imagination . Don't try to paint everything
7. Dramatize light to create mood
8. watercolor medium is about spontaneity ,simplicity and negative shapes
9. Don't get bug down with details. Skip them if you have to.

loading the Tea layer by planning for your complementary. Leave whites for high light

Tilting your board to stop the over flow of washes

Unify your shadows and paint your focus. Break up chunks of solid colors to create interest

Another example of the base layer (Tea layer)

An example of tea layer. Connecting shape shapes while keeping in mind warm and cool relationships

Thicken the honey layer to intensify the focus and contrast. Use dry brush strokes on figure to suggest movements

Completed piece by Alvaro