french chateau workshop
A few weeks ago, I joined 20 watercolor artists in a Zoom workshop led by Mayad Allos, an instructor based out of the UK. We learned how to paint a beautiful French chateau surrounded by lush greenery. Mayad walked us through step by step instructions to create the piece, and I really enjoyed learning from him. I haven’t taken part in many Zoom art instruction courses before. This was a very positive experience where I learned not only from the instructor but also from the other students in the course. Everyone had such different styles - one woman even digitally painted on her iPad.
Most of my watercolor knowledge is either instruction from my grandmother or self-taught through books, Youtube, etc., so I really enjoyed learning from a specified watercolor instructor. If this is something you are interested in, I can’t recommend Mayad’s instruction enough! His website is linked here.
01. Leave your ruler behind
This leaves a more dynamic impression on your piece instead of something more architectural. Of course, if you are seeking a more architectural, neat result, then use a ruler! I always want to make my lines perfect (hello type A!) so I love using my ruler. I tried my best to free hand the ink over my first graphite layer. I definitely broke this rule once or twice, but I loved the effect that the freehanded lines gave my piece. It felt a little bit looser and gestural, providing movement and a dynamic quality that ruler lines don’t always have.
02. Simplify the leaves
I have had a hard time painting foliage for as long as I can remember, so I was really looking forward to learning anything to help me out. Mayad demonstrated how to draw then paint leaves so that it creates the impression of detail without having to draw every single leaf. Here’s a little step by step recreation of what he showed us.
03. Work front to back
When drawing in ink, start with the foremost object and work backwards. That way you won’t draw lines through spaces you need to keep open. We used graphite first, then traced over our graphite drawing with ink. I used a Micron 01 Pen in Cool Gray. Micron pens are archival ink, which means they won’t bleed when painted over with watercolor. These are a few of my favorites.
04. Lemon Yellow under foliage
Take a minute to analyze how the light hits your subject. Is it backlit? Direct sunlight? A gloomy rainy day? All these instances will change the way you approach your painting. For this piece, we painted the facade of a French chateau in direct sunlight from the right. The foliage and the potted plants were a vivid selection of greens, so we wanted to emulate this in our painting. Using a watery wash of lemon yellow (a very cool-toned yellow) under your foliage will create a bright, vibrant image and adds movement and life to the leaves. That almost-neon yellow mimics the sunlight behind the leaves.
05. Don’t paint over semi-dry areas
Either paint wet in wet or wait for the area to dry. This will protect your paper and keep the integrity of the colors you’ve chosen. Watercolor can be a process that requires a lot of patience. Sometimes I rush when painting because I want to make my piece feel effortless and light, but then it ends up looking messy and hurried. Mayad talked about the importance of waiting while you’re painting and taking it slow. Because I was following his instructions, I forced myself to keep to a slower pace instead of painting the way I normally do. I was much happier with my piece as a result.
