Easily Avoid This Mistake | Watercolor Painting

Watercolor painting tips | Soon Warren, ArtistsNetwork.com
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We all make mistakes once in a while, but isn’t it nice when we can avoid them in advance? When it comes to watercolor painting, you can save time and money by learning from a pro such as Soon Warren. Today’s newsletter features an exclusive bundle on painting flowers and other subjects with the Vibrant Watercolor Painting Techniques Toolkit (what’s in it? An eMagazine, two paintbrushes, two books, and four art workshop DVDs!) NorthLightShop.com

Keep reading for a preview from Soon’s Painting Vibrant Flowers in Watercolor, in which she gives you a tip on how to get just the right green and a demonstration on painting leaves. ~Cherie

 

Same Name, Different Company, Different Colors

It can be confusing, but a color from one company will be different from a color with the same name from a different company. This difference may be subtle or dramatic, so be careful. For example, Hooker’s green from different companies appear as different shades and saturations. As you gain experience in watercolor painting, you’ll develop a preference for colors manufactured by certain companies.

Watercolor painting tips | Soon Warren, ArtistsNetwork.com
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Painting Flowers: Tips for Painting Leaves

Almost all the flowers you’ll paint have leaves. Take time to notice their interesting colors. You’ll learn never to use any kind of green directly out of the tube. Without mixing, green pigment seems too neon or raw compared to the green shades found in nature.

To see this, paint a sample of pure green pigment and compare it to the trees and plants outside. You will discover that the green shades of nature blend in any number of colors, including red, brown, blue and yellow. The season you wish to portray also affects the shade of green. In spring, it may be a little yellowish; in summer, a dark and deep green; in fall, red and orange come into play; and in the winter, you see blue tones.

Play with the greens on your palette to find what mixture you like the best.

Free Demo from Painting Vibrant Flowers in Watercolor

Watercolor painting demo | Soon Warren, ArtistsNetwork.com

1. Apply the Undercoat
Draw the leaf, then apply a light wash of premixed sap green and burnt sienna with your No. 10 round brush.

Watercolor painting demo | Soon Warren, ArtistsNetwork.com

2. Glaze With the Local Color
Glaze the leaf with premixed bamboo green and sap green using a no. 10 round, and add the line for the vein with Quinacridone Red and a No. 8 round.

Watercolor painting demo | Soon Warren, ArtistsNetwork.com

3. Add the Details
Using a No. 6 round, draw the thin lines of the veins on the leaf and glaze darker green between them. Draw and define some teeth on the leaf with the same brush. ~Soon

 

**Subscribe to the Artists Network newsletter for inspiration, instruction, and ideas, and score a free download on Watercolor Painting for Beginners: The Basics and More.

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