Thursday, June 25, 2015

Notes on Liu Yi's Watercolor application

Notes on Liu Yi Painting

http://www.liuyi.com.cn


This amazing watercolorists is well known for his ballerina series.

There’s a distinct softness to his watercolor paintings and here’s what I learn from watching this DVD.




Priming the back of the paper with water to trap moist and retard the drying process

Liu Yi memtions that in China, most Artists just use these 3 brushes to kick ass

This guy is amazingly good with locking in color temperature and value shift within just one variegated wash.
  •  Liu Yi paints mostly in high key
  •  Achieve extreme control of wet-on-wet by prolonging the dampness of paper 
  • Does this by priming the back of the paper with a layer of water. This seals a layer of moisture between the paper and board. With no air pocket, the evaporation process is being retarded
  • He also layer a wash of clear water to the top of the paper and wait until this is 90% dry before he proceed with painting  Usually he waits for an hour.
  • He achieves maximum temperature and value shift within just one wash. Very few glazes (not even 3). Most of his work is superbly executed within one variegated wash. He has an excellent control over the concentration of pigment. 
  • He doesn’t like pencil mark on his painting and approach painting straight from pigment. 
  • He uses Fabriano Artistco, Arches and Saunders Waterford paper and prefers one over another depending on subject matters. All these 3 paper has different end results to the color. 
  • He is a master who understand water’s characteristic and brings along a thermometer so that he can figure out the time he has to paint before the paper dries up. For him the optimal humidity if 60%. Anytime less, you will have to paint faster. 
  •  Sometimes use hair dryer to aim at location to control the moisture
  • He mentioned that most Chinese watercolorist in China rock the industry with just 3 brushes. 
    • A calligraphy brush that is versatile and can be a rigger (made from wolves fur)
    • 2 other flat brushes. ( made from wolves fur) 
    • Though he is sponsored by Escoda, he has trying to get them to make these wolves brushes he uses..
  • I am totally inspired.

some of his amazing work.

He did mention that its important to be inspired by your subject matters. 

His famous series of ballerina

His website
http://www.liuyi.com.cn

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