How To Paint A Large Middle Value Shape and Why it's Crucial

Four weeks ago, I shared a tutorial of a first wash that you might have seen. In this we were painting loosely and applying the lightest value of different colors throughout the painting. This next tutorial is going to build upon what I taught there, so if you haven’t watched that, check it out.

The next step is the connected middle value wash, which is the most challenging but also the most important part of a painting. It is what makes it read well from a distance and also what allows you to take advantage of the best part of watercolor -  the blending of colors from one into another.

In my video I elaborate on the following steps:

Step 1 - Analyze your painting for the large middle shape. 

Step 2 - Premix some of the colors that you’re going to use in this shape.

Step 3 - Paint efficiently to connect the shapes that you want connected.

I hope you find this helpful!

If you haven’t already, follow this link to my Eight Tips to Avoid Overworking Your Painting. I've gotten some great feedback from this video lesson, and it's been very helpful to many of my students.