How to layer watercolour on canvas - plus a full review of Schmincke Aquafix

[@dianesparks1845]

Thank you Liz! I appreciate all your hard work bringing us the tips and tricks. The demo on Aqua Fix was especially interesting for me.

[@LizChadertonStudio]

Good! Hope you find it useful 😁

[@christopherazzopardi2062]

Another excellent tutorial! I'm happy that I subscribed to your channel. You are an excellent artist and teacher

[@LizChadertonStudio]

Thank you very much!

[@lunz1343]

Extremely informative, thank you very much!

[@LizChadertonStudio]

Glad it was helpful!

[@valeriegehling4358]

Find your videos always teach me new & interesting things that I may or may not use but, if I remember them all could be helpful. And, peeks in your super books are also helpful. Also appreciate your saving tips. Thanks.

[@LizChadertonStudio]

You are so welcome!

[@ARTTHERAPYbyShelly]

Learning from you! Thanks for sharing. Keep it up! See yah Dear 🤗

[@LizChadertonStudio]

glad you found it useful 😊

[@rosaphx]

I have never heard of this product Aqua Fix. Thank you for your videos, I am a new subscriber.

[@LizChadertonStudio]

It's a life saver!

[@PaintingDigitally]

Hi Liz, many thanks for your Aquafix tip! I didn't have any so I tried dilute GAC100 and it seems to do the same thing. I guess both turn the watercolour into acrylic ... but as long as not too much of the medium is used it can still be lifted off. What works for me is to put out some fresh paint and use only the dilute GAC100 to wet the paint ... and then throw out the paint that's left at the end. A bit wasteful, but I find it difficult not to contaminate my paints otherwise.

[@LizChadertonStudio]

That's good to know. I experimented with acrylic varnish too: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6vCnIF_fNlknrs You are right, you do need to throw excess paint away at the end, because it will not reactivate once dried.

[@ciardhubh9281]

OMG you're a life saver! Come across this problem working with stone paper as I couldnt glaze and the darker pigments kept smudging due to the pigments staying on surface. Actually tried the transparent ground method but sealed the surface with a varnish so the watercolour wouldnt activate and that worked! But the aqua fix method looks way better. Tysm!

[@LizChadertonStudio]

it’s magic, isn’t it! you can also add clear acrylic varnish if you struggle to find Aquafix kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6vCnIF_fNlknrs

[@rachelsingleton6838]

Great video. Thank you for this thorough demonstration ❤

[@LizChadertonStudio]

Glad it was helpful!

[@paulalotte1146]

Thanks, Liz, for taking the time to show us all of the differences. I believe people here in the states use the fixatif for a finishing layer over the finished painting, to keep it waterproof as well as to help keep it from fading over time.

[@LizChadertonStudio]

A fixative is designed to protect your work, but still needs to be protected. it’s like a weak varnish, so I would never use it as a final coat unless something was going under glass (personally). the artists I spoke to originally (admittedly on a forum in the mists of time), said they fixed layers and continued with watercolour. I don’t know how they got it to work! it would be great for pastel over watercolour or even transparent ground over fixative….

[@paulalotte1146]

I have no clue how they'd do that as I, personally, have never used it. Would you recommend Dorlan's Wax Medium as a good final protector?

[@LizChadertonStudio]

@@paulalotte1146 love Dorlands! Such a nice finish. I have a film on it if you need it

[@ThePaulahoo1]

This is brilliant!! Thank you so much for taking the time to educate us!

[@LizChadertonStudio]

My pleasure!

[@hsteil]

I always like to watch your teaching “experimental” videos…great information

[@LizChadertonStudio]

that’s great to hear. I thought this was quite specialist, but lots of people painting on canvas really struggle.

[@NormaWalton]

I have found the shellac Soap in Great Art online, available in UK

[@LizChadertonStudio]

Me too! It’s hard to get

[@cornishmama]

Thank a for the tips.😊

[@LizChadertonStudio]

You’re welcome 😊

[@she63ful]

Fantastic tip thank you! I’ve tried Google searching for this product and it doesn’t come up anywhere?? Is there a link anywhere please?

[@LizChadertonStudio]

what country are you in?

[@she63ful]

@@LizChadertonStudio Australia 🇦🇺

[@LizChadertonStudio]

@@she63ful www.jacksonsart.com/schmincke-aqua-watercolour-fixative-60ml Jackson’s deliver to Aus. An alternative is to add matte varnish to your wash. A Brazilian artist does that as he can’t get Aquafix.

[@LizChadertonStudio]

This might also helpkzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6vCnIF_fNlknrs @@she63ful

[@she63ful]

@@LizChadertonStudio oh thanks SO much. You’re a treasure! ❤️

[@michaelannfitzgerald8742]

Excellent demo with great information. Thank you for sharing!

[@LizChadertonStudio]

My pleasure!

[@gracecallowayable]

Beautiful!!!👠👠👠

[@LizChadertonStudio]

thank you so much 😊

[@fortierdawn]

I just stumbled onto your channel this morning. Your videos are so informative. Being new at watercolor, they are very helpful. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@LizChadertonStudio]

You are so welcome! I do one each Sunday, so please subscribe and click the bell and you will be notified. If there is a topic you want covering, I might be able to help!

[@fortierdawn]

@@LizChadertonStudio I definitely will. Thank you

[@polgara28]

Oooo! I wonder if this would work with Yupo paper... I love the way the paint just dances on that surface, but like your canvases, it lifts so easily. Going to have a go at this now. Thanks so much!

[@LizChadertonStudio]

I haven’t tried it on yupo, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. let me know!

[@pnd1987]

So I guess the transparent watercolour ground can be used as varnish without leaving shine to the paint in and protect against water? All varnishes I’ve seen so far have glossy finish, which I don’t like. Wonder if the transparent ground would affect shimmering/metallic watercolour paint, if it would still shimmer after ground is applied 🤔

[@LizChadertonStudio]

no! The ground has water in it and it will smear your painting. You need spray varnish or cold wax medium to seal. There are hundreds of matte varnishes available. one with uv protection is a good idea. This film might help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5eUqqiPrrmZidU

[@janeharrison3151]

thanks Liz, this is what I need. SAA here I come xx

[@LizChadertonStudio]

Have fun!

[@corrabellemayberry296]

I usually spray with a matte fixative so nothing lifts when I put another layer of clear ground on top of everything (or just specific parts i need to layer). Its kind of a long process but it works. The aqua fix looks interesting though...not sure i can get that in Canada; Schmenke isn't as easy to find here. Also, the krylon workable fixative is supposed to be erasable...(i haven't tried that myself though yet.)

[@LizChadertonStudio]

yes, I can see that works and I tried it at the beginning until I discerned Aquafix. Another alternative is to add acrylic matte varnish to your washes. A Brazilian artist who couldn’t get Aquafix suggested it. see kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6vCnIF_fNlknrs

[@forrest603]

What about self-leveling (or evening) to get rid of brush strokes -- difficult to do if the painting is vertical, I imagine?

[@LizChadertonStudio]

if you add a little water to the ground and lay it flat you get levelling. Alternatively a light sand between coats helps

[@sleepyeyes9228]

Hello! Have you encountered cracking on watercolor on canvas? likeo ver the years? :) Also do you spray fixative after? Thank you! I hope for your response :)

[@LizChadertonStudio]

no I haven’t had any issue with cracking. I guess if you put it on thick?? The ground is designed to be flexible.

[@LizChadertonStudio]

Yes, to fixative. you must spray or your painting could be washed off, it’s vulnerable even when you’ve used Aquafix

[@quyanapatton6951]

I have a question, do you know where I could go to get some of those products in the US?

[@LizChadertonStudio]

I googled Aquafix USA and Blick and Cheap Joe’s came up. Good luck

[@quyanapatton6951]

@@LizChadertonStudio thank you

[@rutbrea8796]

I didn't know there were watercolors canvas, I need to buy a couple of them to try them out. Thanks for sharing. I am sorry I cannot donate for you today, I have been having difficulty with finances. I hope you don't mind? God bless you!

[@LizChadertonStudio]

No worries! Enjoy trying out the canvas

[@rutbrea8796]

@@LizChadertonStudio thank you for sharing your knowledge and kindness 🙏♥️

[@franhodges9959]

Did you put Aquafix over each layer?

[@LizChadertonStudio]

the Aquafix goes in the paint, not as a layer over

[@inger_musicart5620]

The one time I tried watercolor ground (on very black paint) it dried milky and streaky. Probably put on too much. Luckily it is fixable by adding another layer

[@LizChadertonStudio]

do you mean transparent ground on top of black? it should dry transparent. if it was white on black, you might need three or four thin layers to obliterate the black. depends on the brand. some are more opaque than others.

[@inger_musicart5620]

It was DS transparent watercolor ground on top of thickly painted black watercolor paint. It started to lift the paint a bit so I think I was to afraid to work it enough. When I saw you laying on the watercolor ground in the film you put it in thinner and worked a bit more. I need to try it again

[@LizChadertonStudio]

@@inger_musicart5620 some things are very much trial and error

[@carolratcliff]

Thanks for testing it all and sharing. Was the big canvas coated with watercolor ground first?

[@LizChadertonStudio]

Yes it was! you need to make the canvas slightly absorbent, so three thin layers of watercolour ground.

[@carolratcliff]

@@LizChadertonStudio thank you! I’d like to try the aqua fix.

[@LizChadertonStudio]

@@carolratcliff I find it works very well

[@carolratcliff]

@@LizChadertonStudio yay my book arrived from Amazon!! Excited to dive in.

[@LizChadertonStudio]

@@carolratcliff ooh, hope it was worth the wait!