Supergranulator Swatching

You can see I’ve divided most of the tin into three rows, corresponding to the tundra, Shire and desert sets.  There are also the three colours out on the right that aren’t part of the sets but which I’ve been using in conjunction with them.  Rose dore adds some much needed warmth to the Tundra set and red to the Shire.  Cerulean blue is needed for skies with the Shire set, Shire blue being quite green.  And cadmium yellow has been used with the tundra set whenever I need greens with a bit of life, admittedly not greens that you’d ever see in tundra regions.  There’s still room in the tin, of course, if I find that the desert set also needs some supplements.

To make the swatches, I started by laying down colour in three quarters of a circle.  I’d then put water in the fourth quarter and encourage some bleeding.  After that, maybe charge in some thick paint in the thickest areas, maybe stab in some water in places, maybe lift off a bit of paint.  It’s a lot of messing around but it’s worth it as it gets the paints to really strut their stuff and to separate into their individual ingredients.  I need to remember this when it comes to painting as I don’t think I’ve yet shown off these colours to maximum effect.

As to individual colours, I was already a big fan of the tundra pink and violet but how are the desert supergranulators?  They’re the new kids on the block.  Well the green and the grey look really interesting to say the least.  I’m looking forward to giving these a try.  Tundra and desert look there to stay.  The jury’s still out on Shire: if I don’t come up with something good before they run out, I may have to try out the forest supergranulators.

Anyway, that’s all for today.  Back to reading that Charles Reid book.