Watercolor Palette Cleaning Tips

Today I'm sharing a few tips with my artist friends,

mostly learned through trial and error.
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I've learned the hard way, that sometimes there's a reason that I'm not getting the results I am seeking when my painting looks like crap is not so successful.

A less than ideal working palette is a definite hinderance. Especially when it is as disgustingly crusty, globbed up, dry and dirty as mine was.

Case in point.
UGH!

When using a covered palette with tube watercolors,

if you don't let it get this bad, fresh pigment can be added to the semi-hardened paint. Then the two consistencies can be stirred together with a smidgen of water to reconstitute it.

However, I have been neglecting my palette for months and there was not much I could salvage!

I had to scrape out the old stuff that was inundated with hard globs, brush hairs and dirt. Then scrub the crust from the wells and start with fresh squeezed pigment.

I used a butter knife, bristle brush, water and lots

of paper towels to accomplish the job.

When I finally got all the wells clean, I squeezed out new pigment using my Tube-Wringer which helps you get every possible drop out of the tube. As you probably already know, if you are still reading this, pigments can get expensive.

It's a real money saver and a big thumbs up from me.

Ah, now doesn't that look totally inviting?

Palette Colors from top left clockwise..... Cobalt Blue - Nice medium blue - has white in it Cobalt Violet - Nice non-staining violet - has white in it *Cadmium Red *Alizarin Crimson *Ivory Black *Burnt Sienna *Yellow Ochre *Naples Yellow - love this color, use it often *Titanium White - just started using this with my Yupos *Lemon Yellow *Gamboge - nice bright color - instead of Cadmium Yellow *Olive Green - Lukas - love this - color varies by maker Hooker's Green Dark Phthalo Green *Turquoise - American Journey or DaVinci- love this! Turquoise - Lukas - color varies by maker *Phthalo Blue *Ultramarine Blue * Colors most used (*Update - 2017 - See the small limited palette I am currently using here.)   The supplies shown above are my current choice for a thorough cleaning and a total palette makeover. They are a paint tube wringer, bristle brush, butter knife, water and pliers (to pry off caps and squeeze the very last splotch of paint from tube). You will also need plenty of paper towels, water and a spray bottle. My palette is a covered Robert E. Wood. When not painting for a couple of days, I uncover, spritz the paint with water, let it breathe for a while, respritz then recover.  Pigments My color choices have changed recently due to working on Yupo paper. I am now using more pigments with white in them as they seem to bind to the synthetic paper better.  I prefer DaVinci and Utrecht brand tube watercolors for their consistency, quality and price but I have also used Windsor and Newton, American Journey and Lukas. See some tips on working on Yupo paper here. Brushes The idea in my approach is to use the biggest brush you can and still get the job done. The bristle fan brush is occasionally used for texture and spattering. For my rounds, I use a lower quality synthetic brush that comes to a good point, but doesn't lose it's hairs. A word of advice don't let your palette get so grungy. This project took me hours! I hope you found a tip or two here that may be of some use to you. Happy creating!

Hummingbirds - More Important Than TV

"Like winds and sunsets,

wild things were taken for granted

until progress began to do away with them.

Now we face the question
whether a still higher 'standard of living' is
worth its cost in things natural, wild and free.
For us of the minority,

the opportunity to see hummingbirds

is more important than television."

~ Aldo Leopold

Little Hummingbird, Wild and Free

7.5" x 5.5" original watercolor on Yupo paper, matted - $85.

acid free, white core mat with a foam core backing in an acetate sleeve

ready to fit into a standard 8" x 10" frame.

The Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds have been reported to be arriving in their summer breeding grounds about two weeks earlier this year. I looked online at the hummingbird migration map and a few early travelers have already been spotted down in Florida and in other states around the Gulf of Mexico. I will keep you updated on their progress. Do you look forward to their arrival too? When do you usually see your first hummingbird?

As always, I'd love to hear from you.

I'm hoping your week is off to a great start!

Raptor Rhapsody

Here is a collage of six hawk paintings

done in the past two weeks.

These paintings were all done on Yupo paper.

Yupo (pronounced You-po), paper is a recyclable, tree-free, synthetic paper which does not absorb water, so the transparent watercolor pigments sit on top of the surface. It is tricky to work on but very forgiving. It can be scrubbed back to the clean surface at any time prior to fixing it with a clear acrylic spray. YAHOO FOR YUPO!

One of the reasons we have so many hummingbirds here at The Sandarosa, is because we also have a healthy colony of Coopers Hawks. The hummingbirds build their nests close to Ms. Cooper's Clan. Too small to be of any interest to a hawk, the crows and other hummingbird predators stay clear or else. It's a very symbiotic relationship.

Ms. Coopers Hawk - Hummingbird Protector 5.5" x 7.5" original watercolor on Yupo paper, matted - $85. acid free, white core mat with a foam core backing in an acetate sleeve ready to fit into a standard 8" x 10" frame.

Ms. Coopers Hawk - Hummingbird Protector

5.5" x 7.5" original watercolor on Yupo paper, matted - $85.

acid free, white core mat with a foam core backing in an acetate sleeve

ready to fit into a standard 8" x 10" frame.

This is the same painting as the one below,

only without the background.

*I'd love to know, do you like it better with

or without the background?

Regal Red Tail 5.5" x 7.5" original watercolor on Yupo paper, matted - $85. acid free, white core mat with a foam core backing in an acetate sleeve ready to fit into a standard 8" x 10" frame.

Regal Red Tail

5.5" x 7.5" original watercolor on Yupo paper, matted - $85.

acid free, white core mat with a foam core backing in an acetate sleeve

ready to fit into a standard 8" x 10" frame.

On the home front, the kittens, Opie and Cutie Pye, are now 10 months old! How time flies when they are little!  Opie weighs about 8 lbs. now and looks as large as 15 lb.,Tigger because of all his hair. The boys like to sleep in the little wicker basket. And the petite Ms.Cutie Pye, at only 6lbs.2 oz., prefers the large dog bed. Go figure! ☺

Thanks for stopping by today. 

Have a great weekend everyone!

Hugs and Purrs, 

(And the Kitties)

P.S. Before you leave, please help me out with your opinion * above.

Thanks again! 

Hawk Totem

Hawk people tend to see an overall view of things and are more aware of signs and messages from the Spirit world. Individuals with hawk as a totem are often more evolved in that they are attuned to heightened physic perception and subtle energy forces. Because hawk is a visionary messenger, people with this totem often tend to be involved in some form of creativity as a vehicle in conveying their story.

Hawk Totem

5.5" x 7.5" original watercolor on Yupo paper, matted - $85.

acid free, white core mat with a foam core backing in an acetate sleeve

ready to fit into a standard 8" x 10" frame.

Here are some of the steps in painting this portrait.

This little American Kestrel,

actually a small falcon,

was inspired by one who sits on

the telephone lines up the street.

Like clockwork, he'll be there every morning,

waiting for his breakfast to show up.

Kolorful Kestrel

5.5" x 7.5" original watercolor on Yupo paper, matted - $85.

acid free, white core mat with a foam core backing in an acetate sleeve

ready to fit into a standard 8" x 10" frame.

Thanks for letting me come into your life.

"Humankind has not woven the web of life. 

We are but one thread within it. 

Whatever we do to the web,

we do to ourselves. 

All things are bound together. 

All things connect."  

~ Chief Seattle, 1855

X ♥  O

Dream Hawk

“If you talk to the animals, they will talk with you

and you will know each other.

If you do not talk to them, you will not know them

and what you do not know, you will fear.

What one fears one destroys.”

~Chief Dan George

Dream Hawk

See painting specifications and price here.

Do you remember your dreams?

Are they ever about animals?

If so, what animals come to you in the dreamtime

and what might their messages be?

Thanks for reading.

Follow your dreams and have a great day!

"An animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language."

~ Martin Buber

Hawk Messenger ~ SOLD

This time of year, the hawks seem to be out in full force. I see them soaring in the air, perching in the trees and standing on the ground. Maybe it's partially due to the fact that they are easier to see in the winter landscape.  According to my beliefs, it also has a lot to do with the messages they are bringing me. Right now there are many changes going on here at The Sandarosa with me and my artwork. Hawk is here to remind me that everything in the visible, physical world has a divine, invisible connection. Everything, including a hawk crossing your path, happens for a reason. I try to stay open to that. This week I have been painting hawks and have even remembered to take a couple of in-progress shots of this one! When was the last time you saw a beautiful hawk? What was it doing? How did it make you feel?

Hawk Messenger

SOLD

The work in progress:

The first thing I do when I am painting a portrait is to paint the eyes because they are the windows to the soul and they must be right. Here I also painted the dark beak and put a light wash on the body.

In this second step, more mid-value washes and some details were added.

Refining important details by adding darker mid-values to the bird and putting in the suggestive, soft green background hues brought this piece to a finish.

Please let me know if you are interested in seeing more work-in-progress shots in the future and I'll try to remember to stop and take a few snaps while I'm painting.

As always, thanks for reading

and for your interest.

A Painting Giveaway!

" TREES INSPIRED BY QUOTES "

PAINTING GIVEAWAY!

In the spirit of birthday week, I'm announcing an ORIGINAL PAINTING GIVEAWAY! It's also a way of showing my gratitude for the support I've received online, especially on facebook, during my 30/30 challenge.

It is quick and simple to enter.

If you are on facebook:

#1) Go to: Sandy Sandy Spiritart and LIKE MY PAGE if you haven't already. 

#2) go to the album: TREES INSPIRED BY QUOTES, click on the images and leave me a short comment on at least 3 of the (available) paintings you would like to win. (It would be nice, but not necessary, to hear why you select the ones you do.)

#3) To get an extra entry, share a link on your facebook timeline to my TREES INSPIRED BY QUOTES album.

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If you do not have a facebook account:

#1) Become a follower here if you are not already one.

#2) go to the album: TREES INSPIRED BY QUOTES, click on the images and leave me a short comment on at least 3 of the (available) paintings you would like to win. (If facebook doesn't allow non-members to post, just comment here with 3 titles of those you would like to own.)

#3) To get an extra entry, share a link to this post on your blog and please let me know you did it.

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ORIGINAL PAINTING GIVEAWAY

 will be held at 11am, EST, March 20th, 2013

(The same day as my Animal Spirits book giveaway.)

Thanks again my friends.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

X ♥  O

"Saying thank you is more than good manners.

It is good spirituality."

~ Alfred Painter

Lessons From The Fox ~ SOLD

In-Between Times

5.5" x 7.5" original watercolor on Yupo paper, matted to 8" x 10" - $85.

acid free, white core mat with a foam core backing in an acetate sleeve

ready to fit into a standard 8" x 10" frame.

• SOLD

A magical creature of the night, fox is

usually most visible to us at dawn and dusk;

the in-between times, when the veil

between the physical and metaphysical

world is the most diaphanous.

Insulated From the Cold

5.5" x 7.5" original watercolor on Yupo paper, matted to 8" x 10" - $85.

acid free, white core mat with a foam core backing in an acetate sleeve

ready to fit into a standard 8" x 10" frame.

When it is cold, the fox wraps itself

in its thick insulating tail.  

Likewise, individuals with fox totems

will find the ability to insulate

themselves from anything that seems cold,

especially relationships.

These are some of the paintings that

have come through me during the

past couple of weeks.

If you would like to find out more about

animal totems and the messages they offer,

be sure to sign up for my

Animal Spirits Book Giveaway.

Wishing You Many Blessings,