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Watercolor Painting Demonstration

New Orleans Dusk
8 x 10", d'Arches 140# hot press paper

  Colors
First, I sketch out the painting. Masking out areas allows me to work without worrying about reserving areas.

Winsor & Newton removable masking fluid.

 

 

My objective in this layer is to paint the sky. I continue the sky wash into the building shadow because I want them to connect - not leave the buildings look like cutouts against the sky.

I paint some aureolin around some of the lighter areas to give a golden glow.

I let this dry completely.

Aureolin
Cobalt Blue
Ultramarine Blue
Quinacridone Red
Quinacridone Gold
Burnt Sienna
 

I paint some of the deeper reds, letting aureolin & quinacridone gold bleed into the sunlit areas.

I keep everything very loose, letting the buildings merge, but also leaving plenty of white paper showing.

I darken the middle building shadow with ultramarine blue & burnt sienna to emphasize the flag colors.

Aureolin
Cobalt Blue
Ultramarine Blue
Quinacridone Red
Quinacridone Gold
Burnt Sienna
 

I deepen all the shadows, keeping in mind that light is coming from the sky horizon as well as the lamp lit buildings.

I add bright green shutters to contrast with the red & pinks of the buildings.

Aureolin
Cobalt Blue
Ultramarine Blue
Quinacridone Red
Quinacridone Gold
Burnt Sienna
Pthalo Green

  After removing the masking, I darken all the shadows again. Aureolin
Cobalt Blue
Ultramarine Blue
Quinacridone Red
Quinacridone Gold
Burnt Sienna
Pthalo Green
 

I add details, painting golden lamplight in the windows, brightly color flags, a distant fire escape.

I just dash in the people, giving them a sense of movement. Always connect the people with something in the background, especially the ground & their cast shadows. Never paint detailed people in a crowded street scene - they'll detract from the bustling feel of a crowd.

The details are still a little harsh, so next...

I wait for everything to dry completely...

Then I scrub out some of the details & colors with clean water & a rag (not a paper towel), leaving paler memories of what was there - New Orleans at Dusk!

Aureolin
Cobalt Blue
Ultramarine Blue
Manganese Blue
Quinacridone Red
Quinacridone Gold
Burnt Sienna
Pthalo Green
 
Final Painting!
 

 

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