How to Achieve Breathtaking Light in Your Watercolors

My neighbor's old truck catches my eye every time I pass it. Especially when the light is hitting it just right.

If you haven't noticed, interesting and beautiful light really inspires me. Capturing it in a watercolor painting isn't simple, but over the years, I've made a lot of progress in this area. 

That's why I'm going to walk you through how I've created luminosity and dappled light in this scene. 

Paint this Old Truck With Me 

Last week on the blog, I talked about using reference photos for your paintings.  I didn't deviate from my reference too much for this painting, but sometimes you do need to make changes - take subjects out of the scene, zoom in, etc. Find examples on last week's blog.

What I loved about this photo was the dappled light on the grass and the way the light was hitting the truck.

Drawing  

First I lay out the drawing of my scene. Here is the drawing I used for this painting. Notice I have wet down the front and back of my paper - that's why the pencil marks are a little blurred. 

First Wash - Lightest Values and Soft Edges

In the first wash, I really embrace the mixing of colors and the soft edges that this creates. I want to lay in the lightest values first because it's difficult - and often impossible - to regain these later in the watercolor process. 

Second Wash - Large, Connected Shape with Middle Values

My next step is to create the large connected shape in my scene with my middle value colors. 

Notice how the lightest values are already making a difference in this wash and how my middle value layer is connected from shape to shape. 

Third Wash - Darks, Details, and Separation

If the middle value mantra is "connection," the third wash mantra is "separation." This is your chance to create more distinct shapes and add in interesting details. 

The work you do in this wash will inevitably get all the credit, but what I want you to notice is how the darks, details, and separation in this last wash only "pop" because of the work we did in the first two washes. 

Follow Along and Paint This Scene With Me

I hope you take the time to watch the whole video of my painting process and try your hand at this scene! These kinds of demos and practice paintings can really help you progress as an artist. 

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