How to paint shadow areas in Watercolor

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Article 3 – How to paint shadow areas in Watercolor

Using my Priming Method I lay in at least one underwash of yellow.

My shadow mix is often warm in color temperature. So I will sometimes use

  • Scarlet Red
  • Aureolin
  • and a touch of Thalo Blue.

I let this mix favor the Scarlet Red. But if I want more strength in my mix – I will sometimes add a touch of Alizarin Crimson to the mix.

I use Schmincke watercolors exclusively for the reasons mentioned in my previous posts.
When working in shadowed areas that I want to glow with warmth – I find I am often adding more red and more yellow in subsequent washes. Blue is ideal to use to help describe shadows. But blue dulls my beautiful glow down so much more than I imagine it will. So use it cautiously – in fine washes initially.

The trick is to have your yellow underwash glowing in a multiple fine washes of yellow. The darker your shadow – the more saturated you will need your yellow hue. Remember to keep your washes fine. If you use thick layers of paint – the paint will lift when you lay in your subsequent washes (shadow washes).

This will give you a fabulous glow from underneath which looks incredible. Check out the gallery in my website and you will see what I mean. Click on the image below.

Some of these paintings are available as Giclee Fine Art Prints.

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