Watercolour Gesso and sand seascape

Quick talk through painting demo showing how to use unusual textures including gesso and sand within a watercolour seascape. Creating Gesso waves with sandy shore.

What is Gesso? Gesso is a primer used to seal painting supports such as wood and canvas prior to painting on. It stops the supports from being as porous so doesn't absorb as much of the artists paint. It isn't generally used as a material to paint with, but it performs as a kind of barrier with watercolour washes, so you can create some really interesting marks and hopefully 'happy accidents"!

The sand adds an additional area of unusual texture in the foreground.

MATERIALS USED:
300gsm Bockingford Cold Pressed (Textured) Watercolour Paper.
Windsor & Newton Cotman Range watercolours, Payne's Grey, Turquoise, Crimson and Cadmium Yellow.
Gesso.
Fine Sand.
Pallet Knife.
Large Flat Brush.
Large Round Brush (with a good point).
Kitchen Roll or Tissue.
White Acrylic Paint.
Toothbrush.
Water.
Palette plate.