What sort of
watercolour paper do you use?
"I use Arches
300 lb. Cold Press paper. I cut it to size (an inch larger than I want to paint
on and tape it to a board with Scotch Brand 3 M Masking Tape on all four sides.
Then I wash the paper surface with warm water and a wash cloth and then I allow
the paper to dry horizontally. Sometimes I use Winsor and Newton 300 lb Cold
Press paper because it doesn't require pre-washing but the colours tend to sink
in slightly more than on the Arches and I find the Arches a lot easier to
scrub.
What brand of
watercolour paint do you use?
" For thirty
years, I have used Winsor and Newton Select List Watercolours . My main colours are Paynes Gray and
Burnt Umber (plus some Winsor Violet) for the darks and Indigo and Sepia for
even more intense darks. I use Paynes Gray and Winsor Yellow Light for subtle
greens and Winsor Blue (Green Shade) or Prussian Blue and Winsor Yellow Light
for sharper greens. Since I went painting with Denise Comeau, I love Sap Green
for its' intensity. How did I ever manage without Sap Green? I also couldn't
live without Winsor Violet. I throw it in everywhere; sky, shadow, darks.
For light
sky-blues I like the Cerelean Blue by Horadam, (Scmincke). It's a lot more
transparent than the Winsor and Newton Cerelean. I also use Ultramarine Blue
(green shade) or Permanent Blue by Winsor and Newton, as well as Winsor Blue
(green shade) and Winsor Blue (red shade). Of course nothing replaces Prussian
Blue completely. Is it obvious that blue is my favourite colour?
For reds, I have
permanent Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Red Medium and Winsor Red. I do use
Permanent Rose but I am searching for an even more intense pink that is also
fully light fast.
For Yellows, I use
Naples Yellow for glazing or to make transparent colours opaque. My main yellow
is Winsor Yellow light and I also use Winsor Yellow Deep or Cadmium Yellow
med."
Where do you
buy your supplies?
The internet has
made shopping around very easy. I
usually compare Curry’s Art Supplies and also Above Ground Art Supplies and
order where ever it is cheapest.
Unfortunately Cheap Joes Art Supplies that used to be my regular source,
no longer ships with reasonable shipping fees and so I no longer order from them.
I love Daniel
Smith located in Seattle Washington. It has a fabulous catalogue and a great
line of their own paints and brushes which are all terrific and of professional
quality. Unfortunately the shipping is now always a factor. If you do end up ordering from the US
make sure that your order is sent by mail not courier or you end up with a $ 40
brokerage fee in addition.
Where in the
world do you like to paint?
I love every place
I've been: even Quirpon Island north of Saint Anthony, Newfoundland. I was
there all alone for 12 days one June and it snowed a bit every day! Of all the
places I've painted, I think I love Italy the best. I love the passion and
speed of life, the yellows, and the food. I loved England (partly because I can
communicate with the people and read the signs) but mainly because I feel
totally comfortable there traveling and painting by myself. I traveled there
three years in a row, making sure I had at least one day in the National
Gallery in London each trip. I particularly love Spain (perhaps because it is
warm and the wine and food is so good). The mountain village of Frigliana was
home to me three Marches in a row.
I have enjoyed painting in Thailand and in the SouthWest USA and South
America is a real favourite because it‘s affordable and picturesque. Most of all I like to paint my home,
Nova Scotia. I love our water, our old (for Canada) buildings and our gentle,
laid back spirit. This spring
I am off to New Zealand and Austrailia.
Every international painting trip has given me new ideas, colours and
approaches that I continue to use in my Nova Scotia paintings and I see my own
landscape with fresh eyes.