Our monthly demonstration on May 5th was a huge success. Over 35 members were entertained and enthralled as our KAS member Eva Illyes led us through her technique of creating beautiful pictures with watercolour paint on Yupo paper. Eva intrigued us by explaining that this technique is very forgiving. She explained that as the paint doesn’t sink into the paper, you have the opportunity to manipulate colour depth and intensity, and correct things you don’t like as you go along. Watercolour on Yupo lends itself to experimentation and adjustment, leading to loose and impressionistic work, rather than detailed realism.
With paper already taped to the board, Eva commenced a beautiful Autumn scene. She started with the sky, using several several blues, which she than blended with a clean dry sponge roller. She used plenty of water, letting the water and pigment do its work. To keep lights, she removed paint with a crumpled tissue where she wanted white clouds, and in other sections where she wanted trees or lighter features. As the paint started drying, she demonstrated the use of a palette knife to drag the paint to create hard edges where required.
While the Autumn Scene painting was drying, Eva commenced a second painting with hydrangeas as subject. She positioned the major flowers in blues, mauves and greens, then used a brush and tissue to remove individual florets. As the wet paint moved, lovely blends were created. Thicker paint was used to give stronger line and colour.
Eva moved from painting to painting, continuing this same process of adding with a brush, or with flicks and daubs, and then taking away with tissue or the roller, until she was satisfied with the result. She showed that even dry paint can be moved with a wet brush, although strongly pigmented colours may leave a stain.
Some Yupo hints from Eva:
Composition (knowing where you want to go) is still a key to success, even though this technique gives scope for manipulation and alteration.
Yupo paper comes in different weights. Heavier is better. You can also buy coloured Yupo paper.
Paper can be bought in sheets or blocks.
Keep flat – any creases will show.
Use any soft pointy brushes – you don’t need expensive mops for this technique
Water colour pencils work well on Yupo.
Keep Yupo paper free of fingerprints or oil as the paint will then not stick.
When finished and dry , paintings on yupo can by sprayed with the same fixative used for other techniques eg pastels.
Eva’s best advice: Experiment and Have Fun! You are only limited by your imagination.
Thank you Eva for a wonderful and inspiring demonstration. Helen Pain
Other paintings by Eva on Yupo .
Photos taken by Doreen
STOP PRESS: Eva has generously donated one of her beautiful paintings to KAS to use as a raffle prize. How lucky the winner will be who goes home on Sunday, 6th September with one of Eva’s paintings.
Thank you so very much Eva.