So, I decided to give this ‘Lambert Ruland’ technique a whirl the other day. Saw something about it ages ago, maybe online, maybe in an old book, can’t quite recall. Looked interesting, kinda messy but structured, you know? Figured I’d try my hand at it.
Getting Started
First thing, I needed supplies. Didn’t have much specific info, so I just guessed. Grabbed some thicker paper, the kind that doesn’t buckle too much with water. Then I dug out my old watercolors and a couple of cheap brushes. Also found some salt, someone mentioned salt techniques online, thought maybe it was related? Worth a shot anyway.
So, I sat down at the kitchen table. Laid out the paper, got my paints ready. My first move was just wetting the paper, then dropping in some color. Tried to mimic that layered look I remembered. It… did not go well.
The First Mess
Honestly, it looked like a toddler’s finger painting gone wrong. The colors just bled everywhere, turned into a muddy brown mess. Not the crisp, separated layers I was picturing. And the salt? Sprinkled some on. It just sat there, then made weird little blotches when it dried. Not the cool texture I hoped for. Total fail.
Round Two: A Bit More Thought
Okay, plan B. Cleaned up the mess. This time, I thought maybe control was key. Instead of soaking the whole paper, I tried working in smaller sections. Wet one area, add the color, let it dry a bit before moving to the next. This felt a bit better.
- Waited for layers to be almost dry.
- Used less water overall.
- Tried different brushes, a finer one helped sometimes.
- Skipped the salt this time. Clearly not the magic ingredient.
It was slow going. Really slow. You have to be patient, let things settle. I’m not always the most patient guy, especially when I just want to see the result. Found myself tapping my fingers, wanting to rush it. But rushing just made mud again.
Why was I even doing this? Guess I just like figuring things out. Ticking boxes, seeing if I can make something work. It’s like fixing that leaky faucet last year – annoying process, but satisfying when water stops dripping, you know?
Anyway, after a few more attempts, focusing on that layering and drying time, I got something that looked… okay. Not amazing, not a masterpiece, definitely not something ‘Lambert Ruland’ himself (if he exists?) would be proud of. But it wasn’t a complete disaster. You could see distinct layers, the colors were a bit brighter.
So yeah, that was my little experiment. Didn’t quite nail it, but learned a bit about watercolor control and my own lack of patience. Maybe I’ll try again sometime, maybe not. It was an afternoon, anyway.
