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Jean Mackay – Knowing When to Stop
Date recorded: Saturday, November 4, 2023
Watercolor artists often struggle with knowing when to put down the brush and call a painting done. The fear of overworking can lead to underworking or creating a piece that’s “good enough” when another few strokes might make it great. Conversely, too heavy a hand might push a painting too far. Join artist Jean Mackay as she shares ideas for assessing your paintings during the middle and late stages so that you gain confidence in knowing when to stop. Jean will begin with a partially finished painting in ink and watercolor and demonstrate finishing techniques. Feel free to bring a mid-to-late stage painting to evaluate and work along.
Watercolor artists often struggle with knowing when to put down the brush and call a painting done. The fear of overworking can lead to underworking or creating a piece that’s “good enough” when another few strokes might make it great. Conversely, too heavy a hand might push a painting too far. Join artist Jean Mackay as she shares ideas for assessing your paintings during the middle and late stages so that you gain confidence in knowing when to stop. Jean will begin with a partially finished painting in ink and watercolor and demonstrate finishing techniques. Feel free to bring a mid-to-late stage painting to evaluate and work along.
Jean Mackay is an artist, educator, and naturalist. She has been keeping an artist journal for more than nearly 20 years a way to study and share the beauty and diversity of nature, as well as to record the art of everyday living. Working in all kinds of settings, from tide pools to farm fields to her own backyard, Jean’s journals reflect a keen eye for detail and profound sense of wonder. Jean teaches at the Hog Island Audubon Camp in Maine and at the Art School of Columbia County in New York. Her blog, Drawn In, shares the ordinary, yet extraordinary things that she encounters close to home and farther afield.
6 Responses
Loved this class! I particularly loved seeing how you keep a brush always at hand to add water or blend things together, plus the 3 stills of the different stages of the treasures from the sea….overall this was just amazingly helpful, so thanks so much! I don’t see where the supplies list is anywhere…is it available? specifically I wanted to know which DaVinci Caseneo brushes those are?
Thanks again, Suzanne
Jean, that was very informative. Thank you for finding the time to share this. I hope your exhibit of work has gone well. I would have loved to have seen it. Rhoda
6 Responses
Loved this class! I particularly loved seeing how you keep a brush always at hand to add water or blend things together, plus the 3 stills of the different stages of the treasures from the sea….overall this was just amazingly helpful, so thanks so much! I don’t see where the supplies list is anywhere…is it available? specifically I wanted to know which DaVinci Caseneo brushes those are?
Thanks again, Suzanne
Such a beautiful job getting the expressiveness of the Junco!! Thanks for a helpful video!
Jean, that was very informative. Thank you for finding the time to share this. I hope your exhibit of work has gone well. I would have loved to have seen it. Rhoda
This was so helpful, both parts–the snapshots moving forward in time for a journal page and the live demo of the birds.
Great as always I like the juncos we have a bunch in the yard fighting over the seed tray!!