Negative Painting Techniques: Watercolor Flowers

Linda Kemp’s Negative Painting Techniques: Watercolor Flowers

MATERIALS:

Surface

• Strathmore Aquarius watercolor paper (or quality paper of your choice) for exercises
• Strathmore Gemini 140-lb. cold pressed watercolor paper (or quality paper of your choice) for demo

Watercolors (Linda uses Holbein)

• Quinacridone Magenta (Scarlet or Rose)
• Cobalt Blue
• Leaf Green
• Quinacridone Gold
• Olive Green
• Cerulean Blue
• Phthalo Blue (red shade)
• Cobalt Violet Light
• Permanent Violet
• Quinacridone Red
• Pyrolle Red
• Raw Sienna
• Burnt Sienna

Brushes (soft, synthetic brushes (Linda uses flats, but rounds are fine if you are more comfortable with those—the larger the better)

• 1/2-inch, 1-inch, 1.-inch flats
• no. 14 round
• Rigger

Other

• Water Container
• Paper towels
• Spray bottle that spits (versus one with a fine mist)
• Non-porous painting board
• Wooden board for drying
• Tracing paper or mylar
• Sharpie or other permanent marker
• Watersoluble marker or pencil
• Watercolor palette with large mixing area

Click here to download a reference photo.

Reviews

  Paula  8/2/2018

Challenging!

  Candy  2/1/2018

She is an excellent teacher. She loves painting and gives great tips. I need to paint along with her next time I watch her. I am usually on the tread mill watching, but she is great at actually teaching.

  Diego  11/3/2017

Wet into wet can be learned using the well explained and developed techniques as shown. It will help me be less fearful about trying new things in watercolor. Thanks!

  Diego  11/3/2017

This video shows how to work wet into wet without worrying if the final painting will be a work of art. As a beginner I enjoyed the simple examples that was concluded with a final full demo of the rose painting. Shapes are the most important part of the process because they are the ones that tell the story for the most part in the final product. Great Video!

  Liz  12/27/2016

Amazing, gorgeous and inspiring.

  Fran  11/16/2016

Very informative and good teaching.

  Georgette  10/8/2016

it was very well explain I am very satisfied thank you very much I learn a lot georgette

  Linda  3/18/2015

Direct painting is so challenging, but Linda Kemp has skillfully broken down all of the steps in this video. I particularly like the emphasis on seeing layers of negative patterns which is mind-bending to say the least. This is not at all formulaic...I'm eager to try the techniques after watching the instruction. Linda Cogdill

  Sarah  3/18/2015

Another big hit ! I am so pleased that Linda explained the process so well.

  Lynette  3/16/2015

Her videos are amazing. Even though I work in oil and occasional acrylic, I find her techniques fascinating. Sorta like rubbing your tummy and patting you head, once you get your brain switched over, it's a beautiful way of painting. I learned a lot by just watching a different way of thinking when I put something down on the canvas.

  Joyce  3/14/2015

J geyer Today I saw the new addition of a Linda Kemp tutor, I mmediately watched it and loved it. I am captivated by her style and teaching of negative painting .and I return to her other videos and her books often, She is one of the best instructors -giving very useful,concise info and visuals in a pleasant friendly relaxed manner. Thank You Linda Kemp-write a new book soon.

  Laura  6/23/2019

  Jelena  6/16/2019

  Juan  3/28/2019

please include subtitles, to facilitate understanding to non-English speakers

  Paula  2/2/2019

  Michelle  1/19/2019

  TERESA  8/19/2018

  Paula  8/4/2018

  Paula  7/31/2018

  Dawn  7/28/2018

  Gilda  5/9/2018

  Kenneth  5/7/2018

  Thomas  4/22/2018

  Nadereh  2/12/2018

I love this technique. Scary but the finished work is really beautiful. I love her work!

  Vickey  1/4/2018

  Carol  12/30/2017

Really interesting!

  Terri-Lynn  12/17/2017

  Candy  12/15/2017

Linda is a great teacher. It took me forever to actually understand negative painting, but Linda was very clear about this. I finally caught on. Ready to try it on my own.

  Pamela  11/9/2017

  Judy  10/5/2017

  Kenneth  9/15/2017

interesting process, very well presented. Linda can really cover a lot of information with a positive outlook and encouraging attitude. Important for me, a rookie watercolorist.

  Serena  8/15/2017

An absolutely brilliant approach to watercolor. Thank you Linda. I am addicted to negative painting now. A wonderful workout for the brain with beautiful results and showcase of what watercolor can do.

  Zanchetta  8/14/2017

  Jelena  8/10/2017

  Jennifer Dany  6/16/2017

  Inma  5/19/2017

  Victor  5/15/2017

  Janis  5/11/2017

  Linda  5/6/2017

  Carol  5/2/2017

  Karyn  4/21/2017

  Nadia  4/6/2017

  Geeta  3/29/2017

Very beautiful technique and methodical instruction of a difficult subject - negative painting. Together with her other videos on Artists Network TV, viewers will get a very valuable insight into the process.

  Sande  3/26/2017

  MAnon  3/15/2017

  Florence  2/26/2017

  Sophie  1/25/2017

  Mary Jane  11/28/2016

Very educational video. Clear lessons and explanations.

  Liz  11/22/2016

Inspirational - I've learned so much from this video. Thank you Linda.

  Loredana  10/4/2016

  Betsy  9/18/2016

  Pat  1/16/2015

In my opinion, this is a "must see" video for every "wanna be" beginning artist. Linda's style may be different from others, but the basic information on color and technique is excellent. I will definitely watch this video again.

  Sarah  9/16/2014

I enjoyed this technique so much and Linda's way of teaching, I may watch it more than once.

  Sandra  5/30/2014

This is a worthwhile video, if you are going to try negative painting

  Misty  4/16/2014

While my painting did not turn out even similar to hers it fuels my creativity and I saw a different painting in it and went that way (the video kept lagging so I kept improvising while I waited). This is a very good video and i'd recommend it to anyone. I will most likely watch and do the demo again.

  Lori  11/20/2013

I really enjoy the time that Linda takes to explain her thought process. It's amazing how much time Linda has to work with her picture without the water drying. I will definitely try some of these techniques and explore what works for me.

  June  11/9/2013

Her instruction on the the negative is great but I became a bit lost without the reference photo. It was hard for me to follow her movements throughout the workshop I was doing my own painting and forgetting to look up to see what the next move was.

  Teresa  11/7/2013

Linda does a really good job of explaining the basics of her technique and walking through some warm-up exercises before starting into a painting. Those basics and the warm-up are important. The negative painting makes you perceive shapes a little differently. While I thought I knew a bit about negative painting, she has some tricks to get those soft granulated areas without hard edges. She demonstrates how you can use two sets of complementary colors and get vibrant colors---not over-mixed mud that you might expect using complementary colors. I did a little mini-painting through my first viewing of the workshop. While my little sketch is no masterpiece, I was delighted with the beautiful glowing layers, and cannot wait to practice this technique some more. I do recommend this class highly!