Enjoying Cobalt Teal Blue

It is a happy color,  Cobalt Teal Blue.

Not in an over the top kind of way, but in the way that just makes you feel ….. content.

I missed it.   It was time to get up, get busy,  and get out the CTB.

Lets just see what it can do!

 

 

Enjoying Cobalt Teal Blue

Enjoyment. A feeling of quiet happiness.

That’s  what this CTB  seems to always bring out.

 

It doesn’t matter if its on regular watercolor paper and I’m creating impressionist landscapes or on a textured up  (impasto) paper and I’m  creating abstracts;  Cobalt Teal Blue never fails to entice and excite.

Even when an artwork really doesn’t work,  I still end up admiring the loveliness of the cobalt teal.

That is such a good positive note.

 

 

I’ve recently wondered what it is specifically about Cobalt Teal Blue that draws me so.

Is it the cool zen, refreshing quality?  Maybe its the hint of tropical waters with the holiday vibe?

Could it be the calm serenity it seems to impart each time I use it?

And why, would any of those things matter?

The artist within is Curious.  And thinks, and wonders, and asks why.   I was one of “Those” in the classrooms. Sorry!

 

 

 

Materials for the Featured Work

Paints

The chosen materials were 2 watercolor paints – (Daniel Smith) Cobalt Teal Blue  and Prussian Blue (Venezia.)

A limited palette goes far, and does much to help with achieving improved tonal values.  At least we will most likely get Lights, Mid tones, and the deep Darks.  Those 3 that are critical for a 3D look to the work.

 

Support

For the surface,  I chose an old watercolor painting on paper that I gessoed over.

 

Technique 

Then I put impasto gel medium over top the dry gesso with a palette knife.

The palette knife application helped to give it delightful textures for the paints to sink into.

Letting this dry was critical.

 

My Paint application was simply using a fully saturated brush, my Rekab,  to introduce the Prussian blue pb27  and the CTB to the damp paper.

I left large areas alone, as you can see, to keep the lights from being taken over and ruined.

 

 

Impasto Gel Technique

This Technique, impasto with watercolor is fun, happy and so exciting.   Beginners will like it because at any stage, if you don’t like it, you rinse it off!  Mixed media artists will like it as it can be used with watercolors, acrylics, inks and is a great way to create strong texture.

Creative watercolorists will adore it.

 

 

 

 

 

Other CTB paintings … you might like

 

MaryEllen Fern    Watercolors     

HOW:   With a Splash of  a Color!

then drawing a loose bold impression of a leaf/fern over top to create a contemporary decorative vibe,

accented with that lovely white space.

You could just as easily, splash orange, red,  or purple.  And draw trees, cabins, florals, vases, etc.

Whatever suits YOU.

I included this one, to stir your imaginations.

Maybe you can do something in a similar vein. Not to copy the same thing, but use the Technique and create something “You!”

 

 

 

“From the Beach”  using CTB only.     (image below)  and seen previously.

This…. Believe it or not, was a huge challenge to accomplish.

A full sheet 22×30″ on Fabriano Rough paper.  

Using a pigment that settles. Granulates ….. so fast, so easy.  Wow.   If you’ve ever tried to execute smooth even transitions of a Graded Wash using a Granulating paint, you know the quandary.

And you can appreciate also, the larger size magnified the challenge immensely.

 

At any rate,  what I wanted to achieve here was the sensation of being at the beach, standing in a small eddy, at the edge of tropical waters.  Just as a small wave comes in.  Then looking out, as it recedes further away from shore.   In a Rothko approach!

 

 

You have seen the Fern and The Beach in the past.  But,  they had something more to give, more to say.  Especially so, on this topic of Cobalt Teal Blue.

1.  Granulating Pigments can be a challenge to create smooth, even graded washes.

2.  Splashes….. can be turned into creative, decorative designs, if we free our imaginations.

3. Limited Palettes  can be extremely powerful and effective.

 

Partner Posts of Interest:

• Beguiling Cobalt Blue 
• Prussian Blue 
•  Textural Effects 
• Palette Knife