In this section I show you how to get set up to begin a painting. 

Then we get started on some beginning techniques like Flat Washes and Graded Washes, as well as a quick lesson on how to create your first paint puddles!!

In this section we continue with the beginning techniques, creating a segmented value chart on our first flat wash rectangle.

We wil explore Lifting, Glazing and Analogous Colors.

In this section I show you my favorite technique as well as the technique I use most often.

I call it the Quick Graded Wash.  Watch and follow along as I paint a make believe branch, demonstrating how you will use this technique in the Dog Painting coming up.

In this lecture I explain the element of art VALUE.  Or as I like to say, the key to all good paintings-Value! 

I define and explain the concept of Values and then we use our understanding of this concept to determine what parts of the dog to trace on tracing paper.  Then I give you a quick guided instruction on my favorite tracing method, using a window and trace paper and finally, a method for transferring your image onto your paper using your simple #2 pencil or any other simple graphite pencil.

If you are a beginner, I highly recommend that you paint the dog image that I am painting.  I have provided you with the photograph to trace so you're all set.  Then you can try your own dog after you've learned the basics from following this guided instruction.

Here we will finally get started on our dog painting, but first!! we must make a Value Chart that refers specifically to our dog.  Since you only get one chance with watercolors, you need to figure out the colors of paints you are going to use and the techniques for how you are going to put them down on the paper before you start painting. 

This is CRITICAL!!  And why so many beginning watercolor painters give up!  Things go wrong because you aren't sure about what you are doing, and since the media is so unforgiving, your painting gets ruined.

To make sure that doesn't happen, Value Charts are key.  You explore not only your paint colors, but your layering techniques and lifting capabilities and test different colors next to each other as well to determine what is best before you paint.

Believe me, you still have plenty of work to do once you start painting, but this step is a good confidence builder and essential for a good painting!

Finally!!!  Yes, you get to start into your painting, but at this point, you should be all set to have a really fun and successful experience painting this dog. 

You have the option to paint your own dog of course, but if you are a beginner, I highly recommend that you paint the dog I have provided here and just work right alongside me.

When I tell you it's YOUR TURN in the video, be sure to take a break and paint.  If you don't do that, you'll just forget everything you watched, so have fun and work right alongside me!!

Next step in the painting process!!  After we painted the Value 1's and 2's everywhere in the painting, we now layer with our Value 3's and 4's.  Here's where you will find out if you like to watercolor.  This process of layering paint on top of previously painted, dry paint is how a watercolor painting is "built".  One layer at a time...so now you understand why the Value Charts are important and why we did those first exercises.

In realistic watercolor painting, layering is the name of the game...as well as what makes watercolors so beautiful and LUMINOUS!

This is a super fun section of the class because when you paint the Features of the Face, the dog will come alive! 

Follow along as I work on the eyes, nose and mouth and see what you come up with.  Make sure to use the tip of your #8 brush or even a smaller brush if you have that to get in all those tiny details.

What should you paint in the features?  EVERYTHING!!!  The more your can add of every little last speck of information the better they will look.

Here we wrap up our Dog Painting by doing some final details on the dog including the collar, tag and background values if you choose.  I ended up painting the background a little dark which I regretted, so you can stop at the super light image of the fur as well.

Have fun and CONGRATULATIONS if your gotten to the point and have finished up you Dog Painting!!

Please leave me a review so I know what you thought of the class and so that others consider taking it.

Thank you!!!