You’re in for a treat today! Guest blogger Karen Knutson has a wonderful lesson on the Charcoal Pour.
Follow along as she explains this cool process step by step. But first, a bit about herself in her own words:
Kathie asked me to write a little bit about myself. (Rolling my eyes 🙂 ) I believe that we all are made up of all the collection of our friends and our family. By surrounding myself with positive, creative, fun friends…I myself, become a better person. So, the first time that I met Kathie George was at Karlyn Holman’s Paint-in. (Karlyn is another “win/win” friendship!) Kathie was painting across the table from me, and I just marveled at how she was able to carry on a conversation with me, text her daughter on her laptop, AND paint a winning painting all at the same time. Plus, she cracked me up with her quick wit! So, that was probably 7 or 8 years ago, and we’ve kept in touch ever since. I come from a very basic background, raised on a ranch in Montana, so I’m a country girl! I moved to Minneapolis in 1974, when I married my husband. (That was 41 years ago!) My training is basically from all the watercolor and acrylic workshops that I have taken from internationally known artists, starting out with Karlyn Holman (started with the best). I went to college at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN but only went there for 2 years, before becoming a hairdresser. I started teaching through Community Education programs, then taught at local art centers, and now, teach workshops all over the USA! I LOVE my life! These teaching jobs come about from word of mouth and by people seeing my paintings in books or in National Exhibitions. My biggest suggestion to students who want to get better is to paint almost every day AND to never throw a painting away! Keep working on it, until it’s completely wrecked, OR maybe you’ll have a lightbulb moment halfway through the disaster. My BEST paintings are the ones that I struggle with the most! I have challenged myself for the past 3 years to do “30 paintings in 30 days” during the month of January. I always take a big jump with my art talents that month. I learn so much and each painting keeps getting better than the last one! Practice does make Perfect! Well, almost perfect. 🙂 My blog is www.karenknutson.blogspot.com and my website is www.karenknutson.com.
(She forgot to tell you that she is a Signature Member of the Transparent Watercolor Society of America, very well deserved). If you check out her blog, you’ll find many, many demos and tips about how she works.
Painting a Bird on a Charcoal Surface
This has been my most popular workshop of the past 2 years. Students love the free beginnings of these paintings! I learned how to do these charcoal washes from reading the book, Discovering the Inner Eye: Experiments in Water Media
- Using a really stiff (barn brush), apply water streaks on the paper. Flick a few drops on there too. Tip the paper to get some runs. These wet strokes will save the whites. Charcoal won’t appear wherever you have the water.
- Using a spice jar with holes in the lid, sprinkle charcoal powder lightly on the surface.
- Outside, pour a big bucket of water over the paper. Do it with force! No wimpy water throwing! The splash of the water forces the charcoal to move across the paper and leave a great impression. Notice where I put the water first, it is completely white.
- Spray a workable fixative on the paper, and let that dry, before beginning the painting.
- Pick a place for your bird so that the eyes will be in a quiet area. I like to draw a shape (in this case, it was a circle) and negative paint behind part of it, and positive paint in other parts of it. Paint the whole bird a light color, except for the bill.
- Choose fun, busy collage pieces for the feathers on the back of the bird. These are not “real” birds, but funky birds. Glue the collage pieces by brushing matte medium in the place where you want the collage, and then placing the collage piece down, and then painting another layer of mat medium on top of the collage piece. I like to make an L format for the background collage papers. This brings the viewer’s eye down to the bird.
- Negative paint within the shape that is behind the bird. Detail on head and eyes.
- Add blacks lacing the viewer’s eyes to your center of interest. I like to add some permanent fine marker lines in the background too.
I’ve painted many paintings with the charcoal pour beginning. It also works fantastic for landscapes. Hope you have a ball doing this process!
THANK YOU, KAREN for writing a post for me and sharing this fantastic technique. You are one of the most organized, tall and talented artists/teachers I know. He, he. It has been such a pleasure to get to know you.
UPDATE
I’ll be going for my third treatment later this week. I will be half done with them at that point! I never know from one day to the next how I will feel it seems, so I thank all of you for your patience with any questions or emails you’ve wanted answered. I eventually get them done, although I’m been dragging my feet a bit. And there’s a draft in the room! My neck hasn’t felt a breeze for many, many years and it’s surprisingly chillin’. Come on Spring!
I hope you enjoyed this week’s Guest Blog post. Thanks so much for reading!
Kathie xo
Thank you Karen and thank you Kathie! Here’s hoping today is a good day with many more good days to come. Loved this lesson and can’t wait to try it! ❤️
Karen, Wonderful and great technique! Can’t wait to try it!!
And to you, Kathie G., you’re at the half way mark of your journey and reaching for your/our goal. Success will be yours on this journey too!! He is with you and He Blesses you! as do we, God Bless You.
Thanks so much Karen and Kathy. I have not seen this technique and can’t wait to try it. You gals are terrific.
Wishing you good health Kathy!
Hi Karen-took your class at Villages last year and was hooked on this tecnique. Have painted 6 funky Birds and in an exhibit,3sold. Thanks dear Kathie for this revisit with Karen. You are in my thoughts daily.
Hang in there Kathy! Love your idea of having artist friends fill in for you each month. But I look forward to when you are back up and running full bore sharing your knowledge and wit with us again. Think of you often and prayers go up for you.
Thank you for sharing your amazing friend while you are getting better. Best to you dear Kathie!
i remember doing the charcoal background in one of your workshops down here and how much fun it was, Kathie. Thanks for sharing your beautiful painting & technique, Karen and I’d love to try it
Yea, you are nearing the halfway mark, the downside…the finish closer, Kathie. You are a real trooper with your sense of humor always shining through. Sending warm thoughts and prayers your way.
Thanks for the lesson!
Many prayers & much love!
Thank you Karen! You are always so wonderful to share with us!! Love your work!
Thank you Kathie and Karen, can’t wait to try this technique, especially throwing the bucket of water. I love any type of watercolor that’s nontraditional. Kathie, i’m so glad you’re halfway done with your treatments. Prayers peace and love.
Thankd Karen and Kathie. Wonderful Tuesday tip as usual. Thinking of you this week Kathie and hoping the treatment works without making you feel yuck. Hugs
Wow! Wonderful lesson in charcoal pour, Karen. As soon as I can get to the store to buy the charcoal powder I will try this! I am really sorry I had to miss your classes in The Villages this year. Hope you’ll be here again so I can create with you! Thanks, Kathie, for sharing Karen. So glad you are halfway. I am keeping those prayers floating upward!
Love to you Kathie. If anyone can keep hanging in there to beat this, it is you. Thanks Karen for the wonderful lesson. Can’t wait to visit your website. Very fun meeting new amazing artists.
WOW! [me too] I can’t wait to try this method! I will keep this e-mail blog for future reference. What fun! You can be really messy and end up with something unique and beautiful. Thank you Karen and Kathie for sharing. Karen, have you written any books on this method that I could add to my collection? If so, how would I get one?
I am so busy getting ready for Spain…it seems I think about it everyday in some way. last night I woke up about 4:00 am and had a thought that I should star my packing so that I don’t get carried away at the last minute and take too much stuff with me, HA Kathie, I will try to stick to your suggestions about what to pack, but I think it will be really hard for me :]
No, I’m in the process of writing a book, but it’s slow going…. Thanks for your comments.
Thank you, Karen, for sharing this amazing technique! And especially for helping your buddy getting her Tuesday blog out to her many, many fans. Kathie, you’re on the countdown…only three more to go and then it’s all uphill! You have so many prayers and positive thoughts coming your way! Love, kisses and hugs! Judy G
Great lesson. Thank you for sharing. Keep smiling, Kathie! Prayers, love and hugs are always on their way to you.
Delightful post, Karen! Love your work!
You are in my thoughts and prayers, dear Kathie!!! Hang in there. One foot in front of the other and feel the love we ALL are sending!!
Thanks so much for the opportunity to learn another new technique! Can’t wait to try this! And Kathie, our prayers are with you every step of the way. We love you and know all will be well soon! Half-time baby!
I loved the guest blogger! I love learning new things and this looks like fun, can’t wait to try it!
Good luck with your treatment! You are almost there!
lovely work,Karen!!!
Thanks Kathie!!!
I’m always praying…be strong!!always with you!!
Thanks to both of you for all you share. Now I know what to do with the charcoal dust I’ve been saving in a jar! This seems more fun than what I was considering. Less stress too! Take care Kathie.
I loved the information that was given to add to my collage library. I can’t wait to try it. I am trying to include more mixed media in my own paintings because people are so interested in it. Thank you so much.
We are thinking about you all of the time Kathie. Get well quick.
Hugs,
Diane
Can’t wait to try this technique! Love the outcome!
Thanks for posting this Karen.
Kathie you are in my constant prayers! I hope each day brings you closer to good health. Love you!!
Kathie, thank for sharing Karen with us. What an awesome technique! Would love to try it.
My prayers continue for you.
Love y’all chick,
Michele and Pooh
Karen, you know how much I love your work. You were my first watercolor teacher…Kathie was my second teacher. There’s nothing like starting out with two of the very best! Thanks for sharing this fun lesson, Karen, and thank you, Kathie, for featuring Karen this week! Love and hugs to both of you. Kathy xoxo
Thanks, Kathie, for sharing your friend Karen’s technique.
Emails from me are just to let you know I am thinking of you and praying for quick recovery.
No answer or response necessary.
Save your energy to fight and conquer the big bad cancer.
Love you, sweet girl.
Awesome, awesome, awesome! I’ve taken this workshop with great friend Karen Knutson and she rocks the house with her magic! Thanks for sharing! Hope treatments go very smoothly Kathie! xoxox
Interesting lesson hope to trybsoon. Thinking of you kathie and wishing you a wonderous outcome. Hang in there.
Thank you for your guest, Karen. Like her style, it was easy to follow. Take care of yourself and don’t push it. Do the things you enjoy and watch something funny and laugh. Praying for you. Take care. pk
I have never seen anything done like this before. Will be doing this ASAP after taking a special pastels landscape painting class this Friday. So glad to hear you are at the halfway point in this treatment plan. Wearing the pink in my hair for you and prayers being sent your way. Take care.
Kathie…You are taking such good care of us by sharing your friends and their talents with us. I continue learning new ideas as I do when you are sharing your talent. You take care, prayers as always are being sent your way. God Bless…
Kathie, my prayers are with you that this next chemo treatment will go smoothly. You are my hero! Love you lots!! It was such a pleasure to be one of your guest artists. Please know that I help out anytime!
I so enjoy all that is posted. I have heard so much about both of you that I feel I know you both. I hope to run into both of you someday. I am a huge Karlyn fan and travel with her often. She came through all treatments full steam ahead and you sound the same way. I have been there too and took it a day at a time. It is 15 years later and I have no signs of recurrence. I hope all goes as well with you.
Karen and Kathie, What a wonderful post, I will look for the the book you talked about and your website, this looks like a really fun project to try. Do you buy the powder or make it yourself, and if you buy it where can you get it? Do the regular craft stores carry it?
Keeping you in thoughts and prayers. Thanks for the guest bloggers, they have been great!!!!
I forgot to mention my favorite brand of charcoal powder. It’s General brand. Do not get graphite powder. Totally different medium! I buy a Generals charcoal powder at a local art supply store.
Thanks so much for the lesson. Have to try this. Kathy, keeping you in my prayers. I know you can beat this!
Great technique, thanks for sharing. Kathy thanks for the update, I am sending you positive energy and positive thoughts, Hugs.
Enjoyed this lesson. Thanks.
Best wishes for your chemo, I’m in chemo for Leukema.
I say a prayer for you each time the Lord brings you to my mind, which is often. I pray for a total and complete healing, nothing less. I love you Kathie George. Be well
Kathie, you are in good company with Karen. I took a mini collage workshop from her years ago at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts in Minnesota! She is a fun teacher and she surely must be good for your spirits! Keep on fighting your battle and know there is healing and survival ahead for you. My best wishes….from a fellow survivor (June 2002!) I hope to see you back in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas for another workshop in the future!
Kathie, you continue to be in my prayers and I must say you take such good care of us by sharing some of your wonderful friends art work and new ideas. I do hope summer comes soon and you will be warmed by the sunshine. God Bless.