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Hi everyone. Here is part 1 of the watercolour Sunflower. In this video I paint the flower and I also demonstrate how I stretch my watercolour paper. I recommend stretching all watercolour paper 300gsm (140lb) in weight and under. You'll see how I remove my painting from the board and how I take the tape off my paper at the end of Part 2 of this tutorial.

Here is Part 2 of the Sunflower - The Leaves and the Stem. https://www.patreon.com/posts/28377738

Thanks!

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Watercolour Sunflower for Patreon Part 1

This is Part 1 of the watercolour Sunflower tutorial.

Comments

Hazel Dalton

Louise, I've been a patron member for a number of months now but, for he first time, today I'm unable to open a tutorial. I keep getting prompted to prove I'm not a robot....which I've done half a dozen times. I'm pretty sure the problem is on my end as I've never had this happen before...what do you suggest?

Louise De Masi

Hi Hazel, Shut down your device and restart it and see if that fixes it. Let me know if it doesn't. Thanks.

Hazel Dalton

Yes, the problem seems to be solved. thanks again

Lori Huhn

Thank you once again. Of coarse i dont have the paper you used or the colors but i was able to use what i have to paint this beautiful Sunflower. I added the yellow bird also. I just love it. I have been painting cards sometimes i have struggled to get the desired results. You tutorials are improving my skills. I love how you go step by step. I used your drawing and converted it to an svg so i could use my cricut to draw the images. I wish we could share pictures

Louise De Masi

My pleasure Lori and thank you. I'm so happy you had success! I wish we could share photos here too. If you use Facebook you can join the group there and share or you can share photos in the Discord group if you decide to join.

Lori Huhn

Hi I did join but I don't know how to access it

Diane Crowe

Good day….Yikes! Completed the first tutorial and I can’t find the second to finish. It looks beautiful. I am learning a lot from your videos. Most of all be patient.

Louise De Masi

Hi Diane, That's great! There's a link to part 2 in my message under the video. I always put the links to part 2 there. Thank you.

Colleen

Hi. One challenge I seem to have is when you go back in with a second wet brush with color on dry paper and having it blend nicely without it having a hard looking water line. If I dont want it to be a dark color….diluting the paint, I have more water on the brush and it tends to have that water line showing. How do I avoid that?

Louise De Masi

Hi Colleen, If you are painting on dry paper - use a damp brush to soften the edges. After applying the paint, take a clean, slightly damp brush and run it along the edges to fade them out. This may help: https://www.patreon.com/posts/89090087

Coleen Conway

Hi Louise! I hope you are recovering well from your latest surgery! Can you tell me were I can find the second video of this class on painting the sunflower leaves? I can't seem to find it on this site. Many thanks! Coleen

Louise De Masi

Thanks so much Colleen. The link to part 2 is in my message to everyone under this part 1 video.

Coleen Conway

Duh Coleen! Sorry Louise! Thank you for answering my question!

Lori DiPaola

I never realized that regarding skillshare and a copy of your painting to keep ! I’m a member , I believe of upper tier … I’ll have to go back and find those paintings you offered… such a blessing 💜

Heidi Bingham

Thank you so much, Louise, for the wonderful tutorial!! Hey, I'm wondering if you've used a hot or cold-press block for your paintings now that you use Saral Transfer Paper to transfer your drawings (as opposed to tracing them)? Then you wouldn't even have to stretch your paper.

Louise De Masi

My pleasure Heidi😘. Thank you! I have tried using the blocks and I find that the paper still puckers for me. I work with a lot of water so I think that's why. I have some blocks here but I still peel them off the block and stretch them before I use them. I wish I didn't have to strtech all the time. That's why I like the watercolour board but they don't seem to be making it anymore. ☹️

Debbie Renwick

Great tutorial! I have tried many sunflowers and failed at them all. Can't wait to try this one...which I believe I can do following your instructions! Thank you!

Louise De Masi

Thank you Debbie. I hope it helps! 🌻😊🤞🏻

Tanya

Fantastic tutorial. Working on the bunny tutorial right now. This Sun flower is next in line.

Kathy Wilden

I’m looking forward to paint this one. Lovely work Louise, love it

Louise De Masi

Lol. I love your enthusiasm. Thanks Paige! Just use a warm brown if you don't have Burnt Umber - Burnt Sienna would be ok.

Louise De Masi

Thanks Kathy. I hope you enjoy it. I'll post the leaf video as soon as I get it done.

Susanne Norling

Amazing ❤️Thank you so much for this,

Susanne Norling

A question, have you tried the new transparent orange from Winsor & Newton? It´s lovely and I think it would work aswell.

Louise De Masi

I haven't tried the Winsor and Newton Transparent Orange but I just bought the Schmincke Transparent Orange because it was on sale. It's beautiful too. I'm just trying to use up my Cadmium Orange. Definitely use the Transparent Orange instead of the Cad Orange.

Susanne Norling

I have the Schmincke one aswell and its gorgeous!! Your going to love it. I’ll try this with the w & n transp. orange.

Britta Thrane

This tutorial looks amazing...is there any green I can use instead of Green Gold ?

Louise De Masi

Thanks Britta. Hmm...It's sort of a greeny yellow colour so I'm thinking maybe if you mix a touch of green into one of your yellows you might get something similar. Mix a few different combinations. i just mixed Gold Ochre, Winsor Lemon and Sap Green and I got something similar......not quite the same as Green Gold but it will work ok.

Katherine Docherty

Really enjoying watching this lesson & can't wait to have a go myself, Thanks

Heidi Bingham

How about a little green with Nickel Azo Yellow?

Britta Thrane

Thank you Heidi, but I ordered it from Jacksons.

Karen Read

I am starting this now! I’ve ordered supplies to stretch my paper, but can’t wait that long!!! An Arches block will have to do... I also don’t have green gold paint (in same order) so will substitute if possible.

Susanne Wall

Hi Louise I have watched the video and Iam anxious to get started.

Susanne Wall

Louise How do we get a copy of the sunflower to trace?

Susanne Wall

Once again I did not see the complete list of what you offer.Thank you,Iam. very pleased I joined

Louise De Masi

Hi Susanne, Thank you! You found the drawing ok I hope. 😊

Yolonde

Louise can you reuse the gator board after you take the painting off? Is that water based sticky tape able to come off you do you just tape over it when you stretch your next piece of paper?

Donna Robillard

I just soaked my arches cold press, wiped off the excess water, and stapled it to my gator board. I have waves. I am afraid if I paint on it the pigment will settle in the valley. What did I do wrong?

Louise De Masi

Hi Yolonde. Yes you use them over and over just like a wooden board. I soak mine in the bath for a about ten minutes and the old tape falls straight off.

Louise De Masi

Did you flatten it before you stapled it? Are the staples close enough together? If you can, send me a photo of it I can have a look. My email is ldemasi@iprimus.com.au Let me know in the email exactly what steps you took. That would be helpful. You can take it off and go through the process again so you don't waste the paper.

Donna Robillard

I am so sorry. I was impatient. Once it totally dried, it flattened right out and it is looking great. Thank you for taking the time to respond though! Excited to start to paint!

Irene Konowal

Hi Louise, I will be starting the sunflower painting, I watched the video on first stretching the paper, my question is how do you remove the painting off the board when it is finished?

Louise De Masi

Hi Irene, You have to cut it off with a sharp knife. When you get to the end of this Sunflower tutorial you'll see how I do that (in part 2).

Kayla Roy

I've heard about stretching watercolor paper before but I wasn't sure when it would be best to do so. Would it be for paintings that are going to use a lot of wet on wet techniques? Also is there a certain type of watercolor paper that stretches? Or can you use this technique with any? Thank you for your help.

Louise De Masi

Hi Kayla, I stretch all paper that is 300gsm (140lb) in weight and under before I paint on it, no matter whether I'll be working really wet or not. I don't like painting on paper that is buckling and has hills and valleys in it and I also don't like to see finished paintings that are buckled. It's much easier to paint on perfectly flat paper. I use Arches paper but there are lots of good quality cotton papers. Try not to use pulp papers if you can afford not to. There is another video here that is just devoted to stretching paper: https://www.patreon.com/posts/31443575

Patti Kehl

Hi Louise, As I prepare to paint your Sunflower I followed your tutorial using Arches 300gsm paper. I soaked the paper before wiping with a tea towel and stapling (I did not use tape as I need to order some) to a 1/2" Gator Board (or what I think is a Gator Board. The results were that my Gator Board bowed into a great big smile when it dried. I then removed the paper and tried again using the same process. This time I stapled it to the reverse side (the frown) . When it dried it was nearly flat, however there was still some slight bowing that occurred. I can work with it but I am wondering what you think the culprit is?? Wrong board? How thick is your Gator Board? Should I try weighting the board so that as the paper dries it doesn't allow the board to bow? Thank you! Patti

Louise De Masi

Hi Patti, Oh no! You must be so frustrated. My gatorboard is 3/4 inch thick. Copy and paste this link into your browser: https://www.parkersartsupplies.com/gatorboard-18mm.html That's the board I use. You could try weighting it. I didn't realise gatorboard came in different thicknesses. I get mine from Parker's Fine Art Supplies ( that link I gave you). I have noticed with mine lately too that I really need the tape not just the staples when I use gator board. Because the gator board is soft, the staples will lift slightly when I wet my paper. So I've been using gummed tape, staples and then masking tape over the top of the staples. See my latest paper stretching video: https://www.patreon.com/posts/31443575 No wonder I prefer using the watercolour board- that Arches don't make anymore 😥.

Patti Kehl

No worries! I am having a lot of fun!! : ) I will add the 3/4" Gatorboard to my supply list. I have the tape in my shopping cart as well because none of my local stores carry it. It is just a matter of collecting my supplies, I'm sure, soon all this will be "old hat" I hope : ) Thank you again for your kind and speedy response! Patti

Paula Vescovo

If there something else I might use besides the umber? I will research but if you have a suggestion it would be appreciated. Thanks.

Louise De Masi

Hi Paula, Burnt Umber is a reddish brown. Hopefully you've got a reddish brown in your kit. If you haven't try mixing some Burnt Sienna into something like Sepia or Van Dyke Brown.

Paula Vescovo

Thank you. I just found a sample on one of my Daniel Smith sample charts. I have my outline transferred ready to go. Thank you so much.

Anne McLaren

I took my A4 Arches 300lb paper and stapled it to a stiff piece of cardboard with staples very close to each other...a1/2 cm apart, I then applied water several times over the paper using my fan brush and afterwards got some blue stick roll paper the one used for house hold painting sold in Bunnings and framed it around my wet canvas. When I came back to it expecting it to be buckled I was surprised it had dried very straight. I was very pleased with the resuslts.

Louise De Masi

I held my breath then when I read your message Anne. Then I breathed a sigh of relief when you said it had dried straight. That's great. I'm glad it dried flat for you.

Anne McLaren

I also add that it was only after I stapled all the paper on to the cardboard that it should have been wet beforehand but it was too late to undo it all so I just took the chance :)

Linda J Greiner

What colors can I mix to get equivalent of golden ochre ? It takes so long now to process supply orders and I'm anxious to get started on this beautiful sun flower :) I was wondering also if your transfer paper is the same as "graphite paper" or something perhaps not as dark and intrusive. Thank you!!!

Louise De Masi

Hi Linda, Off the top of my head and without trying it myself - you could try mixing an earthy brown like Burnt Sienna into a bright yellow that you have and see if that is similar. You coluld also try substituting it with Yellow Ochre or Raw Sienna perhaps.

Jayne Collins

I’m having a problem forwarding to the printer for line drawing etc. when I first started the lessons I had no problem. But the beginner pepper and peas I can not get to forward. Any suggestions? I really love the lessons. I’ve have learned so much. Thanks

Louise De Masi

Hi Jayne, thank you! I'm not sure what the problem would be. Nothing is different on my end. Download the drawing to your computer first. Then print from your computer. You might need to change your print settings.

Annabelle Zamora

I ´ve been trying to find a Gator-board and got into a company Gator-board.com and they also have foam boards, do you see any differences or do you have any preference between the two of them? thanks for your time on this matter.

Louise De Masi

That looks like the same gatorboard I use. You have to use the 18mm thickness board. That's the thick one. The thinner boards bow.

Christine Ellis

Just reached the end of part one and now realised why I've struggled to paint all the separate parts of the petals. Louise has done it on A3 whereas I'm using A4. Ah well, good practice, A3 size should be easy after this! Only trouble is I can't print A3 on our printer. How can I enlarge it from the A4 drawing?

Louise De Masi

I've just uploaded an A3 size line drawing spread over two A4 size files. You can print the top half on one piece of paper and the bottom half on another and sticky tape them together so you can trace them onto your paper. Thanks Christine.

Christine Ellis

Oh, thank you so much Louise. I love your tutorials and follow them every day. You are such a brilliant teacher.

Karen Stall

Louise, this was such a challenge and such a good time. As a retired teacher, I appreciate your teaching style and the break down of very doable steps. Thank you so much. I absolutely loved painting this! (aso is your front facing giraffe on Skill Share only or is it in the upper level on Pateon as well?)

Louise De Masi

My pleasure. That's wonderful! Thank you Sharon. The other giraffe is on Skillshare. The upper tier on Patreon ($12) have access to the same tutorials as the $6 tier but those patrons on the $12 tier receive a bonus downloadable high resolution file of one my paintings every month that they can print and give as a gift or keep. I sell files to the public for $16.

Cinthia Teague

so...Louise. I stretched my Arches, 100% cotton, 300 pound paper as you suggested. Soaked for 5 minutes, used the water-activated tape, and stapled it as directed, but in the morning when I woke up it was buckled at the bottom. Is there a way to save this? and what did I do wrong?

Louise De Masi

Hi Cinthia, It sounds like you've done it right so I'm not sure. Can you send me a photo? ldemasi@iprimus.com.au You can take it all off and stretch it again. That will mean the paper will be smaller though because you'll have to cut the tape from it.

Lana Webster

My sunflower turned up beautiful; of course the painting itself requires lots of patience. It took a couple of evenings to complete🤩 Thank you, Louise ❤️

Melinda Hannam

Hi all, FYI I had an issue with this sunflower file being too big. Once I compressed it, da dah, no problem.

Lynn Woodward

I don’t stretch 300 lb paper. I’m not surprised it didn’t buckle.

Jennifer

Dear Louise, please could you recommend which de Vinci maestro 35 I should buy? I at the moment have Princeton velvet touch acrylic #8 ,4,1,0 plus various larger brushes. I would like to spoil myself with a few really good brushes

Louise De Masi

Hi Jennifer, at the moment the three sizes I use most are a #3, #5 and #7.

Vicki Falsgraf

Hi Louise. My sunflower is the best painting I've ever done, and I have really learned a lot from your tutorial. I would have been lost without it. I have a question: Which skills level would you classify this (beginner, intermediate, or advanced)?

Louise De Masi

Hi Vicki, that's wonderful news and I'm so pleased. I would say this is high intermediate to advanced. I wouldn't call it an easy painting and lots of patience is required with all that layering. Well done!

Nettie Moss

Gosh! talk about watching a Master at work - this is mesmerising, the detail is superb, I know no other teacher who is so meticulous!

Penny Upson

I’m so disappointed. I did the sunflower as it was in the tutorial but changed the composition to include a second flower and a third front facing flower. That was the problem, the front facing one looked awful. The dark centre just looked awful to me. It was like a bulls eye and should be used for darts. I will only ever do side facing sunflowers but not for a long time. The lesson was great. The problem was me!

Louise De Masi

That's a shame Penny. I'm sorry the composition didn't work out. It happens to me too. I go through so much paper but it's all learning. 💕

Perla Inacay

I did the sunflower tutorial twice and the first time, I did not have the colors you recommended and I did not use 100 % cotton and I was so disappointed that I got all the supplies you recommended, and have a better outcome. I’m just a beginner but now I’m doing all your beginner tutorials.

Louise De Masi

That's great that you had sucess with better supplies. Good paper is essential for success. Have fun with it now. Thanks Perla.

Kileen P Smith

Hi Louise! I painted my first sunflower and added a background splash in Antwerp Blue. I love that color! I felt that my petals looked flat...but my friend loved it and asked if she could buy it. I told her that I couldn't sell it to her, as I was not happy with it, and it was from your tutorial. So, I gifted it to her, and she is going to frame it for her kitchen! I have now started my second attempt! So far it is coming together quite nicely. Thank you so much for sharing your amazing skills.

Louise De Masi

Hi Eileen, I love Antwerp Blue too. I hope your friend treasures her sunflower painting! That was very kind of you to give it to her. Good luck with the 2nd one. 💛

Kelly Halligan

I stretched my Arches last night, and today its all rippled at the top. Why did this happen? I use well water

Kelly Halligan

I should add that I did soak it for 5 minutes, then used a tea towel, then tape. My stapler didn’t work with my gator board, I gather this is why it buckled? Second question, why do you sketch before you soak? is there a reason?

Louise De Masi

Hi Kelly, Stretching will fail if the tape and/or staples fail. Sometimes the gummed tape becomes unstuck which is why I use staples as well. You can use only staples but because gator board is soft in the middle when the paper is wet sometimes the staples will have a hard time holding firm. I use both because I have better results that way. You can sketch before or after you soak. These days I usually put the line drawing on the paper after I have soaked it. I have found that if I put the drawing on before I soak it the graphite is a little harder to lighten if I need to. The water seems to set it slightly.

Kelly Halligan

Thanks! I took the tape off (not all) and re soaked paper and re taped- it worked! Staples are key