Other useful Aids

18” rule. Useful when working out perspective, horizons, etc..

Putty Eraser.  Don’t rub watercolour paper to much, you could spoil the surface. For small sections, press eraser into the paper to lift out pencil marks.

Enlarging Grid. A Perspex sheet about  8x6” with scribed lines in centimeter squares.

Brown Gummed Paper Tape. For stretching watercolour paper below 140lb weight (300gsm)

Candle. Use as a wax barrier when painting water. This leaves white patches in the water, keep the lines straight.   Remember once applied, you are stuck with it.

Masking Fluid. For blocking out passages of your painting which you want to leave white or paint latter. i.e. Block out a building while the sky is being painted. When you purchase this, obtain one which is coloured, not white.

Ox Gall. This increases the wetting and flow of water colours. Washes are accepted much easier. Add a few drops to your clean mixing water.

Gum Arabic. Increases brilliance, gloss and transparency of watercolours. Add a spot to your mix as and when needed.

Projector. Useful in enlarging photographic slides

Epidiascope. Will enlarge photographs, sketches. Sometimes 3D obects.

Both the last two items can be very expensive, all they do is help to develop a work more quickly.

Well I hope you have picked up a few hints from this small tutorial. Get out your paints and brushes and enjoy painting in watercolour.  Thank you for spending time looking through the pages.  

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