Watercolor painted on the main square of St-Germain en Laye, not far from my home. Royal city, the sub-prefecture of Yvelines is a cradle of culture and history. In the same architectural spirit as my city, Maisons Laffitte, Saint Germain is a welcoming city in many ways. Its many shops make it a must for Yvelinois who like to stroll through the shopping streets. A large choice of cafes and restaurants complete the whole of a very pleasant city to live in.
I really like painting outdoors so as to capture the ambience of the place. This place is for me quite emblematic of the royal cities. Magnificent facades with elegant architecture frame this living space. Town market, outdoor events, association day, concerts, festivities … the inhabitants of the town take pleasure in meeting and discussing. So many opportunities to draw characters in their daily life.
To make this watercolor of Saint Germain en Laye, I used the painting equipment that I usually use when I go out to paint in the field. A block of fine-grained paper that allows you to draw lots of details in ink. Indeed, I really appreciate the thoroughness when I do magazine illustrations or for the press, and I like to continue this delicate work when I paint outside. The ink I use is often applied with a sergeant major or glass nib, but when time is of the essence, the weather is unstable, or I have little room to settle in, I ‘uses permanent markers. These fine point markers, where the permanent ink I use with a nib, is indelible and does not react to water. This gives me the ability to color in watercolor, even with a lot of water.
The real constraint is that of the paper, which must be of a substantial weight (around 300 grams), to ensure that the surface does not curl and does not react to ink wash or large brushstrokes.
