
Explore essential watercolor materials and color choices like yellow, orange, and blue to capture bright light. Master washes, pigment mixing, and the right tools for smooth light transitions.
Apply tape to the paper to prevent warping, then sketch the composition with pencil using the rule of thirds, leaving the light areas white and hinting at possible subjects.
Wets the full sheet, lays smooth watercolor washes in yellow, orange, and blue to capture sky and light, then prepares for a second layer with dry paper and hard edges.
Explore sunlit watercolor landscape techniques: wet-on-wet washes, layering yellows and oranges, cobalt blue and brown for shadows, salt texture, and lifting for white highlights on cotton paper.
An instructor guides painting the air balloon in watercolor, using bright light from the right, pencil sketches on washes, orange accents, and masking tape for final details.
This lesson is about the principles of painting light in watercolour.
We'll get to know the theory of light and what are the specifics of painting light in watercolor, we'll learn different watercolor techniques (a la prima and layered washes, edge blur, rubbing, squashing, splashes, salt), we'll talk about the basic principles of drawing - perspective, contrast, shade, reflections, and so on.
Together we will draw a beautiful sunset landscape with a dazzling, eye-popping sun. The lesson is not long, with concentrated knowledge of watercolour basics, and it’s suitable for beginners.
Materials needed:
I try to use a limited range and a minimum of materials, so you don't need a mountains of paint and thousands of brushes to draw this painting.
Paints (mine by Schmincke):
- cold yellow (Transparent Yellow)
- warm yellow (Turner's Yellow)
- orange (Transparent Orange)
- blue (Cobalt Blue)
In one place I also use sepia (dark brown), but it's not necessary.
Brushes: large soft squirrel/imitation, round or oval goat brush, small synthetic brush with a sharp tip
Paper: for this subject paper is not essential, cellulose paper is also suitable, but I recommend 100% cotton, fin texture, density of 300 gr. (I have Arches Torchon)
Masking tape, can for water, paper towels, pencil and eraser
Ordinary kitchen salt
If you have any difficulties with the materials feel free to contact me via Messages or in Instagram Direct (@draw_better).