Che Lopez demonstrating "How To" paint using the new DANIEL SMITH Watercolor Sticks

Che Lopez demonstrating "How To" paint using the new DANIEL SMITH Watercolor Sticks

Yesterday’s FREE demo at the DANIEL SMITH Seattle Store and “Hands On” Event with Che Lopez was all about the play-full, and expressive nature of the New DANIEL SMITH Extra Fine Watercolor Sticks ….very appropriate given the playful, funny and expressive presentation by Che!  Che is not your average Watercolor Artist, oooh no, Che Lopez is ALSO a US Boxing Coach , and “knocked us out” with his jokes and humorous approach to watercolor painting/drawing with the DS Watercolor Sticks. 

Che began each of the two,  FREE 1 hour demos by showing us different ways of working with the new Watercolor Sticks:
  • Drawing with the Watercolor Sticks (both on dry and wet paper) TIP: use a Lyra-Orlow Graphite Holder to hold the WC Stick when it becomes short.
  • Make a point by sharpening it with a Lyra Sharpener (save the shavings).
  • Dissolve the shavings in small containers to paint with using a brush.
  • Dissolve the shavings in a spray bottle to spray the Watercolor on to Watercolor paper to add “tone”.
  • Drawing with the Watercolor Sticks, then using a brush to dissolve the line partially or totally.
  • Wiping your brush on the bottom of the Watercolor Sticks and painting directly onto the paper.
  • Mixing shavings of different colors in small containers to make secondary colors (ex: Quinacridone Coral with Hansa Yellow medium for flesh tones, and adding Quinacridone Burnt Orange for darker tones)
  • Dipping the Watercolor Stick into water and drawing with it wet.
  • Grinding the Watercolor Stick into a porcelain dish that has been lightly sprayed with water to make paste to paint with, you can mix colors this way too.
 
Che started his Watercolor painting/drawing using the Watercolor Sticks for a portrait of a Boxer.  Working from a photograph, Che first added tone to his Arches 300 lb Cold Press Watercolor Paper by spraying some dissolved Watercolor Stick in Hansa Yellow Medium onto the paper.  Then sketched in the face on the toned and wet Watercolor paper using his New Gamboge Watercolor Stick.  Che than began working on creating the portrait using all of the techniques outlined above.  For most of the brush work, Che used one of his favorite brushes, the Windsor Newton Regency Gold.
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While painting/drawing, Che talked us through what he was doing and answered questions from the group.  One of the things Che told us was that working with the DS Watercolor Sticks, “takes [Che] back to my childhood and the play-fullness of drawing with crayons.”  Che said that he finds using the Watercolor Sticks to be “very spontaneous“.  Once he was nearing completion, Che said he would’ “hit it with Big, BIG color” we all laughed…great finish for a Boxing Coach / Watercolor Artist! 
"Hands On" portion of the FREE demo of the new DANIEL SMITH Extra Fine Watercolor Sticks with Watercolor Artist Che Lopez

"Hands On" portion of the FREE demo of the new DANIEL SMITH Extra Fine Watercolor Sticks with Watercolor Artist Che Lopez

When Che finished his portrait, it was time for the “Hands On” portion of the demo and everyone was eager to try the DANIEL SMITH Watercolor Sticks for themselves. 

Thanks Che!
 
Every  Day,  
Express  Yourself  with  ART….
 
~Deborah Burns