Painting Shadows in Watercolor For Beginners by Deb Watson

Painting shadows in watercolor can be tricky. Simplify the process by working on value and edges before adding color. By working wet on wet with a neutral color, you can paint the shadows and only concentrate on getting the values right. Once your values are in place with nice, soft edges, the color goes on top.

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----------------Materials----------------------------------

Paper: Painted on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed natural white paper.
Paint : I've switched to Qor brand watercolor by Golden - the orange was Transparent Pyrrole Orange
Brushes: My favorite wash brush is the Silver Black 3/4" oval - around $25 and it lasts a very long time (and no, I don't get kick backs)


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------------------------------- * ABOUT DEB WATSON * -------------------------------------------

Deb Watson is a well known artist and teacher - she loves teaching and her goal is get more people painting!

Deb loved drawing even as a child, but her parents discouraged art as a waste of time. So Deb became a nurse. Even while working full time and raising a family, she still dabbled in art as a hobby. Deb was most interested in painting realistic watercolors, but no classes were available, so she taught herself, over many years of practice (and a lot of bad paintings.) When Deb's art began winning awards and selling, (her work has won hundreds of awards and been exhibited in juried exhibits and museums across the nation.) she turned to art part time, and then full time. Deb Watson enjoys teaching and painting watercolor from Lancaster Pennsylvania, where she lives with her husband, one cat and a mischievous sheep dog named Edgar.

[jens.]

Thank you so much. Adding shadows was always my greatest frustration. Ruined so many paintings after working so hard on them. I tired your method and succeeded. Appreciate this so much.

[SharonH]

This was an "a-ha!" moment for me! Thank you so much for sharing this technique.🙋🏼‍♀️

I tried this technique yesterday and it worked so well! Thank you for the tips; I can't wait to experiment with different colors !

[susanw]

So "enlightening!" Thank you for this tip! I can't wait to try!

[chuenli]

This was so usefull! I'm a beginner, thank you for sharing Deb!

[mowenurbano]

I was like, I've been overthinking this but it's just actually that easy. Thank you!

[ichselbst]

What a great tip! Thanks so much for sharing. Up to nowI‘ve always layered my colors until they looked „shadowy“ (or muddy, for that matter...). I‘ll definetyl try your method.

[lizatrue]

What an incredible vid. So very helpful Deb. Can't wait to try it. Thank you so much!

[CatherineSummerfield]

Brilliant !! Thank you for sharing... Love and Peace, Catherine

[deleted]

I'm just starting painting and drawing and I'm not good at it but this channel has been so helpful i don't know what i would do without it, thank you so much!
Just finished and shadows looks amazing now!

[njfranck]

a bit like the "grisaille" method from oil painting, not? ;-)

[catherinelevison]

Wow, I’ve learned something super good. Your videos are informative. Thank you!

[jakea]

Crikey! Why did I not know this? Thank you Deb.

[delilahlinder]

Thank you so much Deb! Didnt know how to start, hope its as easy at it looks, 😅 love you❤

[taceldi]

Thank you!!! I was stumped over this. Can’t wait to try it out

[shaustin]

OMG. What a great way to do it. So clever 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[raerae]

I was searching youtube for info on choosing shadow colours in any medium. What a gem your video is(particularly being me being new to watercolour). Loved the “thirsty brush” term and using it for soft highlights is going to be really helpful. Thanks.

[marijadika]

This is such useful and important tip for us beginners! Thank you....

[aricar]

Such a lovely little tutorial :). Straight to the point, and very helpful! Thank you. Going to give this a try today, and check out some more of your videos.

[katepanthera]

This is such a neat 'trick'. I've seen most paintings use glazing for shadows, but this works much better for me at my beginning stage. Thanks so much.