The Power of Design - Watercolor

This start to finish demonstration painting originally done for the watercolor festival in Fabriano Italy, 2020. The theme is the importance of design in the painting process. And the subject is a view done completely from imagination and memory. Sight observation and painting from life are important, but not the only source of inspiration available to the artist.
+Paper, 300gsm Arches - Rough Surface
+Pigments by Daniel Smith
+Brushes by Escoda and Neef
+Palette by House of Hoffman
+Sketch pencils by Blackwing and Faber-Castell
+Sketchbook by Stillman + Birn
Thank you for watching! Tom
Thomas W Schaller AWS NWS TWSA ASAI
www.thomaswschaller.com
thomaswschaller
twschaller
thomaswschallerThomas W Schaller - Artist, Architect, Author

[@thomaswschaller]

This is a video demonstration done for Fabriano 2020. Since we all couldn't be there in person, I thought I'd share it here as well. Thanks for watching ! Tom

[@louisejffisher4630]

Thank you ~ I am so glad you did !

[@thomaswschaller]

@@louisejffisher4630 thanks

[@corgan0759]

I have just started your Design and Power of the Imagination and just wanted to say that I am loving it. You have a wonderful teaching style that is so inspiring. I can tell that I am going to grow and learn alot through your beautiful course. Thank you so much !!! Cheryl

[@thomaswschaller]

@@corgan0759 Thanks so much Cheri - I appreciate it

[@terrylavis4792]

That’s fabulous Tom. Thank you so much 👏👏👏

[@Ahobbitatheart]

This painting is drop dead gorgeous. What you have taught me in one tutorial has expanded my perspective and changed the way I see and feel about value and color. I’m so grateful.

[@thomaswschaller]

Thank you so much Mo

[@ericbromley1309]

Great paintings as always Thomas, full of atmosphere.

[@thomaswschaller]

Thanks!

[@luckyhiker3434]

Such a great sketch and great commentary! Robt

[@thomaswschaller]

Thanks so much

[@Cvaut]

The super planning ,clarity, value study, focal reiteration naturally leads to outstanding results. A reflection of the man behind the painting.Super teacher too,

[@thomaswschaller]

Many many thanks

[@aayeff]

Thank you for a very helpful demonstration. Great clarity on the priorities to make a good painting.

[@thomaswschaller]

thanks Anthony

[@scarz1951]

I truly love watching your vids. They are helpful in so many ways...especially the design aspects and color theory. Thank you very much.

[@thomaswschaller]

So glad they are of help

[@susanlynn9285]

I shared your book and many haven’t seen a finished watercolor painting. It makes me happy to see their expressions of disbelief when they view your book. Some say “that’s watercolor?” I share your inspiration to non-artists, who now are painting. Thanks so much.

[@gabrieledurrauer7917]

I love your art, Thomas!

[@thomaswschaller]

Thank you

[@thomasardito5489]

Tom - I recently bought your book, Architect of Light, for my wife who’s an accomplished watercolorist. We were delighted just yesterday to discover this channel! I’ve always done a lot of drawing and some printmaking but am now learning to paint-the timing couldn’t be better! Thanks for your beautiful work, stay well and keep the vids coming, please!

[@thomaswschaller]

Thanks very much Thomas - I'll upload as many as I can

[@davidhunt664]

Wonderful Tom. Just like the medium, you are a very transparent person, sharing all your learning with us learners, something i don't see with many artists. Thanks for sharing all of this for free.

[@irenemacdonald4955]

Thomas, you set my little watercolour heart on fire. Thank you for posting this wonderfully informative demo and I’m now addicted.

[@thomaswschaller]

Thanks so much Irene

[@krisse33]

Now because we have covid, so I have a lot of time to find lovely paintings. I am so happy to find you! I love your teaching! Thank you so much for your videos! Amazing painting! :)

[@thomaswschaller]

thanks so much

[@louisejffisher4630]

Your works in progress are amazing ~ simply beautiful Thomas ~ Happy Weekend ! Jennie

[@thomaswschaller]

Thanks so much Jennie

[@louisejffisher4630]

@@thomaswschaller You are most welcome !

[@bigupbebop4706]

Loved this. Listening to the words was as important as watching the painting. I learned a lot from watching this and will probably watch it many times for inspiration. Thank you for the demonstration.

[@thomaswschaller]

Really appreciate it. Thanks

[@laurastamp9463]

Thank you, thank you a million times, you made my day with this beautiful painting and the way you teach and provide tips and information is very helpful for us wanna be's. Love your work!

[@thomaswschaller]

thank you so much Laura

[@MB-kf3yx]

Thomas, thank you for sharing your expertise in this demonstration. As a novice, it was helpful to see the painting go from drawing, through initial washes, layering, and completion.

[@thomaswschaller]

thank you

[@Carem44]

Beautiful painting. I wish I could think like you do. I paint what I see.

[@thomaswschaller]

Thank you - Just grab a sketchbook and dream.... You'll be surprised!

[@lindagunter7811]

Wowed me again....🤩

[@thomaswschaller]

thanks

[@kathrynveronica1804]

My new obsession..watching you create and share your talent!

[@carlasimons4043]

Love watching you paint and listening to how you plan it out. Thanks for sharing this! Lovely!

[@thomaswschaller]

thank you Carla - much appreciated

[@siddharthpanchal718]

What a stunning painting. Simply amazing.

[@chida259]

Thank you very much Thomas for a wonderful demonstration with words of advice. You are a great inspiration to all enthusiastic water-colorists who would like to improve their knowledge and improve their skills.

[@thomaswschaller]

Thanks so much Chidanand

[@priyajana3796]

Sir ... please upload this type of full videos more. We can learn more sir....

[@Tespen42]

Glad to see this one. Really love your style. Good to see Otis too! Real live workshops again will be wonderful. Hopefully soon.

[@praveen_javali]

very informative, very beautiful painting. thank you very much for your time and effort, knowledge , experience in creating these videos.

[@thomaswschaller]

many thanks

[@nanazhoosh1029]

Thank you so much. I tried to paint step by step and it helps me to learn more.

[@edwardcameron3042]

Thank you Tom

[@thomaswschaller]

You are very welcome

[@samiakhan961]

It’s amazing to look at what you create. Thank you

[@thomaswschaller]

Thank you so much !

[@plowisonutube]

Your narrative is wonderfully entertaining😊👍🇺🇸

[@mjg5628]

Quite interesting approach which mirrors the right atmosphere. Excellent painting.

[@artbysha8039]

Hi there. And hugs to Adorable Otis! .

[@thomaswschaller]

Awww - Hugs back at you. Hope you're well

[@lynatno1]

Lord, but you make it look effortless Tom.

[@thomaswschaller]

Don't be fooled Lyn - This is the3rd take :) Hope you're well

[@lynatno1]

thomas w schaller you don’t fool me ❤️ I’ve seen you paint once or twice 😊. We’re fine. Hope you and wee O are too.

[@thomaswschaller]

@@lynatno1 We are OK - Dodgy days here in Los Angeles and the US in general, but so many are far worse off , Hoping for better days

[@lynatno1]

thomas w schaller 🙏🙏

[@smitharavi3358]

This is a lovely demonstration of the elements of design , thankyou for sharing ,I really enjoy your videos ,lots to learn...

[@thomaswschaller]

Thanks so much Smitha - Glad you enjoyed it

[@AlpayBeler]

Thank you for putting out this wonderful and very informative demo, Thomas. Much appreciated and greetings from, London. Keep well and safe and happy paintings! :)

[@thomaswschaller]

Thank you Alpay

[@EdoHannema-Watercolour-Art]

Loved it Thomas. So nice and good to see your brushstrokes! and the explanation of what you make! Thanks! regards Edo

[@thomaswschaller]

Thanks my friend

[@sachangarts2395]

Thankyouuuu. Your videos are very informative!! 💓

[@priyangshipaul]

Love your work...and such a lovely dialogue

[@thomaswschaller]

Thanks so much - That means a lot!

[@Supportmyart]

Awesome work

[@thomaswschaller]

thanks

[@erveyilmaz]

We like you with yout trees, too ^.^ 🌿

[@thomaswschaller]

Trees are good, too :)

[@erveyilmaz]

^.^@@thomaswschaller

[@larrycamerlengo536]

I am a leisure painter with limited painting skills and this video works well for me as it is less detailed and easy to follow and understand. Do you have other demos similar to this one? I enjoy all your videos and art work. You have Alvaro and Zbukvic beat by a mile.

[@thomaswschaller]

Thank you Larry - I have a number of other demos here on KZbin and quite a few full-length videos available . My new one from this year is produced by Streamline and is very detailed and comprehensive. But Alvaro and Josephs are heroes. We are all different - but still....

[@Gina-bt7qk]

yay! You're here!

[@thomaswschaller]

I'm here - I'm there - I'm everywhere

[@Gina-bt7qk]

@@thomaswschaller lol

[@arteworld]

This is so so lovely... love all your paintings n demos... what is the brush called with which you painted the tree foliage please?

[@thomaswschaller]

thanks. it's a standard reservoir brush - a type of line brush. lots of people make them. mine is a DaVinci - Cassenio series

[@arteworld]

@@thomaswschaller ... Oh thank you

[@geraldineryan1622]

Thomas, You leave a lot of unpainted paper under the tape. Is there a reason for this please. I think you are an amazing artist. I strive to achieve this. Geraldine Ryan

[@thomaswschaller]

Thanks Geraldine. The only unpainted paper under the tape is just there to form the border of the painting - It's only about 1 inch around all 4 sides. Makes framing easier and keeps the wet paper flat when painting

[@abominableproject9812]

Maintaining a sketch Book for the composition is helping me a lot. Can you please guide me regarding the types of pencils and grades of pencils you use. Thank you in advance.

[@thomaswschaller]

Great! Thanks so much - My fav pencils are Blackwing 602 - about an HB weight lead

[@JGalegria]

when you say it's pretty hard to add light back in a painting and that you're not a purist re using opaque in your painting, you could clarify that you mean watercolour painting.... it seems obvious, but I've noticed people in the comments who don't understand that watercolour technique is specific to watercolour and does not apply to acrylic and oils or other types of opaque media.

[@thomaswschaller]

Yes - I usually think it goes without saying, but that's not always the case. So I agree, you're right - So moving I'll clarify

[@bewo166]

Beautiful, I struggle with trees and this brush you're using for the leaves looks like a great tool. Can you tell me what it is exactly? Thank you

[@thomaswschaller]

Thank you - It's a type of liner brush that has a large barrel to hold lots of water and then longer quills coming from the center for calligraphic marks - Held on the side it makes nice, scruffy marks that easily depict foliage. They are made by all kinds of manufacturers - Escoda, Neef, DaVinci, etc.

[@bewo166]

@@thomaswschaller thanks for the quick response. I've been on line trying to figure this out all day.

[@thomaswschaller]

@@bewo166 Here's a link to one - Look at the first of this group : www.jerrysartarama.com/da-vinci-casaneo-new-wave-synthetic-watercolor-brushes?gclid=CjwKCAjwzvX7BRAeEiwAsXExo7aXcksWbdNn-pZz2K-dQPkMsS80jTGjsN5b3noFBAWm-jLR28FDcRoCm1wQAvD_BwE

[@bewo166]

@@thomaswschaller Thank you so much, I really appreciate you taking the time to reply to me!

[@thomaswschaller]

@@bewo166 You're every welcome - Happy painting!