This is Day two of this 22×28″ still life watercolor.
I am trying a technique I have never tried before. I created all of the shadows first and now I am adding the color.
Here is the progression thus far:
I’ll tell you, I am usually the dummy trying to add shadows at the very end and all I wind up doing is muddying up and distorting the whole painting. Adding them first makes so much sense. However, next time I will not apply the same color shadow for the entire painting (In this painting it is all the same blue). Some shadows are warm, some shadows are cool. I often like to use a color’s compliment in the shadow like yellow/purple, red/green, and blue/orange. Which I didn’t even consider this time around…So much to remember, but I am slowly catching on.
For all of you non-artists out there, I am sure I sound like I am rambling, but the point I am trying to make is there is so much thought, calculation and science that goes into making a successful painting.
I’m pretty sure it will take a lifetime to figure it all out. A lifetime of mistakes and with each one, a new-found insight. I guess if it were easy, there’d be no challenge in figuring it out right?
I’ll keep plugging away!
This is very nice! I love the results and appreciate the step-by-step pictures!
Elephant