Deconstruction: Ophelia

First post ever. I never posted a proper blog before. Anyways, I'd like to share the steps to how I did "Ophelia" my A3 size watercolour piece.

First, I stretch my watercolour paper after I trace it from my rough sketch.

How to stretch your watercolour paper:
  You spray the paper with water. I like to wet the backside of the paper, the side with no lineart on it.

While wet, use the masking tape to stick the paper down on the table.

 Now, let's start painting! While the paper is wet, lightly paint with blue on the edges where the water's suppose to be.

 Paint the base colour with yellow and then pink while the paper is still wet. Make sure you're painting the base colours lightly! Pink is on the dress and her hair. Yellow is painted where the light hits her skin. Watercolour is all about pre-planning.

I colour her eyes first. I painted it in viridian mixed with phthalo blue.

 Using the red colour, I lightly (but darker than base) on her hair. Paint the darker areas darker and wash away the pigment to colour the lighter places.

 Adding the blush on her cheeks.

 defining her eyes with NOT black paint, but with a mixture of burnt umber and prussian blue.

 While the paint is still wet, wash away all the colour in the brush and use just water to "bleed" the mascara.

 Tah duh!

 After that, use the masking fluid on the petals and leaves and leave it to dry.

 Paint the flowers on her hair, first lightly and then build it up with darker colours. Then add the blush colour on her breasts.

 Add the ripples lightly with the same colour you used with the water.

 Darken around the edges of the water where the water touches the dress or anything that's going above water. Colour her leg and the stocking.

 Adding more ripples.

 details of the flowers.

 Splatter purple and red paint around the petals.

 then add white ink to all highlights and your own signature!

Voila! Done!!!

This is my own method... but there are loads more. Hope it was useful in a way.... This painting is up for sale if anyone is interested. I will sell it for US$55 including postage and handling.

Please visit my deviantart page: http://waterpieces.deviantart.com/