Painting Wild Places with Watercolors: Winter's Light

Name: Painting Wild Places with Watercolors: Winter's Light
Rating: 4.4 (72 reviews)

Step-by-step instructional videos with a downloadable Color Painting Reference and full-size Traceable Drawing Guide.

Created byGary Spetz

Last updated 10/2016

English

What you'll learn

Successfully paint a bold, dynamic, detailed watercolor landscape.
Gain confidence in controlling the sometimes unwieldy characteristic of watercolor.

Course content

1 section • 19 lectures • 1h 35m total length

Step 1: Composition4:08
This is an introduction to my course that includes the downloadable/printable Beginning Notes and Supply List.

Step 2 contains the very helpful downloadable/printable:

(8) Masking Guides
Traceable Drawing Guide (downloadable in 4 parts)
Master to Drawing Guide
COLOR Painting Printout

After downloading these PDF files, you can then open it in your computer's PDF viewer (probably Adobe Acrobat Reader). Printing from the PDF viewer will make it print out correctly (size/orientation). If your computer does not have a PDF viewer, you can install Adobe Acrobat Reader for free, here: http://get.adobe.com/reader/
BONUS: Gary's Palette 1019:04
Bonus video with Gary describing how he sets up his painting palette and mixes his colors. Filmed before a live audience.
BONUS: Masking 10122:25
Bonus video with Gary describing how and why he works with masking fluid. Filmed before a live audience.
Step 2: Masking2:37
Gary demonstrates masking out some of the painting's lightest values.

This lecture includes the following downloadable/printable PDF files:

(8) Masking Guides
Traceable Drawing Guide (downloadable in 4 parts)
Master to Drawing Guide
COLOR Painting Printout
Gary's Palette Guide

Please note that the COLOR Painting Printout is purposely pre-lightened as home printers tend to print dark.

Step 1 contains the downloadable/printable Beginning Notes and Supply List.

If printing this document, it would be best to "Download" it as a PDF. This "Download" option is below this image window (to the left). After downloading, you can then open it in your computer's PDF viewer (probably Adobe Acrobat Reader). Printing from the PDF viewer will make it print out correctly (size/orientation). If your computer does not have a PDF viewer, you can install Adobe Acrobat Reader for free, here: http://get.adobe.com/reader/
Step 3: Sunlight Colors2:41
After the masking has dried, Gary applies a bulls-eye blend for the sky colors.
Step 4: Second Masking2:12
Once the sky wash has dried, Gary applies a second stage of masking—over the dry paint.
Step 5: Sunlight Colors II5:31
When the second stage of masking dries, Gary applies a second wash of sky colors.
Step 6: Third Masking2:25
Once the paint is dry, Gary applies a third stage of masking—once again over dry paint.
Step 7: Tree Shadows2:43
Gary ads Cobalt Blue to the unmasked areas of the tree shades.
Step 8: Distant Tree Trunks5:34
Gary paints in the most distant tree trunks while the masking is still on the paper.
Step 9: Prominent Tree Trunks4:39
Gary paints in the closest, most prominent tree trunks—scraping in bark texture as they dry.
Step 10: Branches2:29
Gary paints in the the tree trunks while the masking is still on the paper.
Step 11: Green Trees5:07
The evergreen trees are painted in with darker green and blue values.
Step 12: Peel Masking & Add A Tree Trunk2:35
All of the masking is peeled off, revealing the layers of color washes.
Step 13: Snow Shading4:34
The now exposed stark white snow is shaped with Cobalt Blue.
Step 14: Shadow Scrubbing2:55
Some of the hard edges of the shadows are scrubbed soft using a water-loaded stiff-bristled scrubbing brush.
Step 15: Sunshine Scrubbing & Tree Details5:19
Some of the hard tree edges near the sun's supposed location are softened with a water-loaded stiff-bristled scrubbing brush.
Step 16: More Snow Shading & Tree Trunk Details3:48
Gary applies more snow and tree trunk details as the painting nears its end.
Step 17: Wrapping Things Up4:43
Gary does the finishing touches to complete Winter's Light.

Requirements

This course is designed for all skill levels, so that absolutely includes beginners -- perhaps especially beginners. Beginners are in some ways at an advantage, as they do not have pre-learned ways of painting. So beginners fear not. It is all step-by-step. I hope and believe that more advanced painters will come away with some new techiques as well.

Description

Forged from the creation of his 111 Public Television "How to Paint" episodes, Gary has perfected his popular step-by-step teaching method for watercolor . Rather than progress from an "easy" painting to a more difficult painting, Gary starts his students on "any given painting." Choose "the subject" (the painting) that you prefer, and Gary will walk you through its creation from start to finish.

It has been his experience that by breaking the watercolor painting process down into easy-to-follow steps, students can take on any of his painting compositions—thus progressing more rapidly. Gary’s proven teaching method will make you a better watercolor painter!

ALL SKILL LEVELS

In many ways, novices are at an advantage as they have not yet pre-learned any watercolor painting approaches. But more advanced painters usually benefit from Gary's many unique watercolor techniques as well.

Watercolor is considered the most versatile and challenging painting medium. It can seem, at times, to have a life of its own. Gary demonstrates how to take control of this dynamic medium by breaking it down into easy-to-follow steps.

Painting Image Size: 19" x 13" (on a 21" x 15" half sheet of watercolor paper)

This course has 43 minutes of video content AND, to help you achieve success, it includes numerous very helpful “Downloadable / Printable” Reference Materials:

19” x 13” Drawing Guide (in 4 parts to be taped together)
Masking Drawing Guides
COLOR Painting Printout
Palette Guide
Supply List

This course also includes 32 minutes of bonus video content:

Masking 101
Gary's Palette 101

Who this course is for:

Anyone who wants to learn unique techniques in controlling the fascinating and versatile medium of watercolor.