Project 2 — Marbles in the Sun
What Will I Learn?
- how shadows, highlights and reflected light work (and give us clues about form and space)
- how to suggest a soft highlight
- how to suggest natural-looking shadows
- how to suggest a shadow that includes some transmitted light (shining through a partially transparent object).
Then you’ll use your understanding of highlights and shadows to paint three cat’s-eye marbles in the sunlight.
Project Prerequisites:
- all lessons in the Getting Started Lesson
- How to Transfer a Drawing from Project 1 (Spring Chickadee)
- How to Make and Apply Vibrant, Juicy Color from Project 1 (Spring Chickadee)
- Mechanics of Mixing from Project 1 (Spring Chickadee)
Supplies You Will Need:
- supplies listed in the Required Materials list for Watercolor Jumpstart set up and ready to paint
- pencil and kneaded eraser
- woodless pencil or graphite stick (optional, but handy) or a regular pencil
- a 1/16th (approx. 5 1/2 x 7 1/2″, 14 x 19 cm) sheet of watercolor paper for the project, taped to your support board
- at least five 1/16th approx. 5 1/2 x 7 1/2″, 14 x 19 cm) sheets of watercolor paper for the project lessons
- several scrap pieces of watercolor paper for testing and practicing colors and brushstrokes (if you are just starting out you may not have any such “scraps” yet; but as you go along save all your exercise and practice sheets and use the backs as your “test sheets”)
Note: Set your printer to “no scaling” or “print actual size” instead of “fill page” to print the templates at the correct size for your watercolor paper.
Course Content
Getting Started
- Gqthering Your Supplies
- How to Tear Large Sheets of Watercolor Paper
- How to Properly Rinse and Care for Your Brushes
- How to Make a Painting Support Board
- How to Remove Masking Tape Without Tearing Your Paper
- How to Set Up Your Workspace
Project 1 — Spring Chickadee
- Project 1 Overview
- How to Transfer a Drawing to Watercolor Paper
- How to Make and Apply Vibrant, Juicy Color
- Exploring Brushmarks
- The Mechanics of Mixing Watercolors
- How to Spatter Watercolor Paint
- Project Lesson — Spring Chickadee
Project 2 — Marbles in the Sun
- Project 2 Overview
- Achieving Soft Edges in Watercolor
- Introduction to Shadows and Highlights
- Project Lesson — Marbles in the Sun
Project 3 — Rainbow Rose Window
Project 4 — Dawn and Dusk at the Lake
- Project 4 Overview
- Laying Flat and Graduated Washes
- Glazing Over a Previous Wash
- Five Techniques for Trees in Watercolor
- Project Lesson — Dawn and Dusk at the Lake
Project 5 — Daisies in a Jar
- Project 5 Overview
- Reserving Whites and Lights, Part 1 — Intentional Blooms
- Reserving Whites and Lights, Part 2 — Lifting Wet and Dry Paint
- Reserving Whites and Lights, Part 3 — Negative Painting
- Reserving Whites and Lights, Part 4 — Using Resists
- Project Lesson — Daisies in a Jar