Richard McKinley's Watercolor Underpainting

On Day 3, we shifted to Yellow Wood, a beautiful, rolling farm and manor house near Leesburg, Virginia. We got in the demo in the morning and painted a bit in the afternoon, then the rains came. Many thanks to Amy for inviting the crowd to her home and studio.

Starting off, we gathered at the foot of a hill for the demo. Richard painted the line of trees at the top. The clouds came and went, but he was able to complete the piece, although we got rain in the afternoon and weren't able to finish.

Here are many photos and several videos. (If I can get Blogger to cooperate, more of the latter will be uploaded.)


Richard arranges his small Heilman Box traditionally, but the right portion is reserved for grays. On purpose, they are the ones closest to his right hand. He separates the grays out, because, if they were mixed in with the other colors, the more vivid hues would outshine them and he would naturally choose the brighter colors. The way it is laid out, he can consciously chooses grays with them being grouped together.

Here Richard displays his deliberate form. (00:45)

Although the transparency of watercolor gets a bad wrap when compared to a pastel underpainting, Richard obtains a depth of color with them. I didn't notice the pan watercolor brand he used, but he did recommend that anyone who uses tubed watercolors should to squeeze them out in advance so they'd be more hard and pan-like. That way, the brush isn't overloaded. Also notice he used a spray bottle for texture, just as he had with the pastel underpainting.

Richards discusses painting as moves and counter moves, plus the unfortunate mindless moves. He reminds us to slow down and be present. (1:39)