Randall Higdon

Since my early years of painting in watercolor, I have learned ways to adapt this medium to suit my personality. It has led me to bend & break several “rules” of painting in traditional transparent watercolor.

I do execute works in total transparent watercolor, but in most of my executions, I incorporate both transparent & opaque techniques within a painting. Each painting begins with a transparent underpainting. Dark colors/values may be introduced early in the painting, sometimes even at the beginning. Inevitably, I will need to adjust color and composition and add details. At this point, I will begin to introduce the opaque colors. I use white casein only as my opaque; it mixes very well with traditional watercolor tube paint.

My preference in using casein over gouache is that casein will not “pick up “or “lift” as gouache does once dry when additional water or color is applied over the paint. The opaque allows me to paint lighter colors over already established dark colors, similar to oil painting but opposite to transparent water. The opaque can also be used as thin washes that aid in depicting atmospheric conditions. Some areas of applied opaque may become somewhat thick, to the extent of subtle brush strokes being created.

This method of execution in watercolor has led me to paint in oil as well. Since my application is somewhat similar to execution in oil, I have had minimal obstacles in making the transition.

Note: Due to casein drying similar to acrylic, my casein mixtures are done separately from my watercolor palette. I also work on a watercolor board substrate rather than “flexible” paper to alleviate any possibility of cracking of heavily applied/buildup of casein.