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Cheryl's Blog
Brain Surgery - or Not
I have no idea historically where the idea came from that it is bad to combine white paint with watercolour. As far back as the early 1900's, famous watercolourists were not at all shy to combine white gouache with their watercolour paintings. I think it is a modern, and in my opinion, misguided practice to teach people that using white paint is 'cheating'. I get riled up when someone says that. By golly this is art, not brain surgery, and I say - if it works use it! What's the alternative? You have this beautiful painting and one small area has become too dark. You've done all the lifting you can and it's not going to work. It would be such a waste to throw it out. Why not get out the white paint and fix it? What do you think?
Brain Surgery - or Not
I'm thinking that it is how you approach painting. If you choose to paint without white, then you should do the best you can to 'not use white' but I don't think the 'can't use white' police are going to come along and give you a fine!
Then there is the idea that says, hey, I can paint however I please and I intend to use white paint wherever I please and so there! It is art either way right!? But I wonder if this comes from that 'puritan' movement in the art world that says if you paint in oils, then this is how you do it. I have even heard art instructors criticize oil painters that do not apply the paint in thick globs on the canvas! They make statements like, 'well that is what it was designed for right? If you want to paint thinnly, then use water color!" Geesh! I always ask myself this question; Am I problem solving creatively? If the answer is yes, then I'm ok...if its no...then I better put the brush down!