https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/shiny-watercolor-still-life • Posted by Kelly E.
This workshop is about something many beginning artists don’t consider: reflected light. We’ll learn how colorful objects can influence each other. This effect is surprisingly easy to replicate with wet-into-wet watercolor, and we’ll practice that by painting a few gum balls. We’ll also learn how to create the candy’s shiny surface using masking fluid.
This workshop is about something many beginning artists don’t consider: reflected light. We’ll learn how colorful objects can influence each other. This effect is surprisingly easy to replicate with wet-into-wet watercolor, and we’ll practice that by painting a few gum balls. We’ll also learn how to create the candy’s shiny surface using masking fluid.
Watch the video tutorial
REFERENCE PHOTO:
Outline the gum balls lightly with a pencil: three overlapping sort-of circles with oval shadows underneath. Use a ruler to draw a rectangular border around the drawing.
Next outline all of the highlights or unusual colors you see (i.e. those that do not match the main color of the gum ball). Really study each one.
Trim your paper, if necessary, until you have a 1-inch border around your drawing (just eyeball it). Tape this to a board with blue painter’s tape. Have your tape go all the way around and right up to the rectangular border.
Apply masking fluid to all outlined shapes. Large areas do not need to be covered completely. Instead you can outline them and create what I call “dams” in the video.
Working on one gum ball at a time, paint the main colors on each and add shadows while those colors are still wet. Use the largest brush you’re comfortable using for this (I used a #10 round brush). Red gumball = bright orange (cadmium red light) and hot pink (opera). Red shadows = deep red (alizarin crimson), purple (dixoazine mauve). Blue gumball = bright blue (cyan) Blue shadows = purple (dioxazine mauve) White gumball = water with just a bit of grayish blue (cerulean) White shadows = various colors from the other gumballs listed above
When this is dry, remove the masking fluid gently with a rubber cement pick-up.
Paint individual shapes in the masking fluid areas. Paint yellow reflections on the underside of each gumball where you see them. Blur the edges of the white shapes. Repeat on all three gum balls.
Mix quite a bit of yellow for the background. This is a mixture of cadmium yellow light and cadmium yellow medium. If you don’t have those yellows, and yours is a little too cool/lemony, add just a bit of orange or red to it to warm it up. Using a large brush, paint the entire background above, around, and below the gumballs in one shot if you can.
Paint shadows beneath the gumballs. These are mostly reddish brown with blues and purples in the darkest parts. The shadow under the blue gumball is greenish. Add darker accents directly beneath the gum balls while the shadows are still damp.
Fine tune the edges of the gum balls. Mix small amounts of their main colors and use it to refine any rough/jagged edges.
Spend some time studying each gum ball and adjust/darken any shadows that need it.
Blur and soften the edges of the shadows under each gum ball. Use a damp brush and wiggle it along any border that seems severe and sharp.
Untape the painting. Carefully pull the tape away from the painting and reveal a white border around it.