 In between Watercolor Coaching students this week I had the opportunity to paint a Vermont porch. What a delight this was to do.  These two paintings really helped me find value shapes . I worked slowly and always felt that I was building something. What I have learned so far: Finding a core structure before starting any project is very important. You have to visualize where you want to go and then break it down into steps for how to get there. But there is something to be said for just plain fun! Here is a link to That it is called the Funky Cookie Studio . But this product is perfect to me . It merges art and dessert. 
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 For me the hardest color to find relative value for is the color red. It always looks like a mid-tone to me. It is an effective mid-tone but when an object is all red and nothing but red it is important to establish the relative value of the local color. What I have learned so far: Using green ...a tiny bit of green can produce some cooler reds that go down the value scale just a notch without turning into neutral grays or browns. The other thing I discovered is Vermont made shortbread cookies that are my new passion food. You can find the cookies here You can find more videos here. Please subscribe to my youtube channel. By hitting the subscribe button.
  This week both in individual coaching sessions and in the new Friday Morning beginners class we will be exploring color spots of value.
What I have learned so far : Value swap outs are a great way to learn how to push color but then it is time to return to "local color" or the way objects really are in real life and still find the white through gray variations of value to turn the forms into three dimensions. It is all optical illusions. Smoke and mirrors. Making videos is fun until you get to the editing part. Then things seem to go in strange directions. I did get this slowed down version done . I think it shows the beginning and middle steps fairly well. If you want to see a subject or if you have suggestions for me please let me know.
What I have learned so far: I got tired of painting really good bad paintings. Do you know what I mean? There was nothing wrong with them but they were not dynamic and they tended to be all middle toned. Then I decided to block in my darks and build from there. It works much better. My book describes this well and now I am providing video and watercolor coaching so we can all have more fun and success.   coaching lessons are happening in the studio and on line. One tip for anybody getting used to a new brush is to use it to sign your name about 10 times. Yup...first and last name...the longer the better. It will force you to use the brush in different ways . You will learn to load it and turn it to make stops and starts of short and longer marks.
What I have learned so far: Working on using limited strokes makes my brushstrokes more confident. I also have found after painting flowers for a month I only want to paint mammals or things with eyes that can look back at me. Value shape painting classes are in full swing at the home studio and also on line.
I am having so much fun meeting new people and sharing the "secret sauce". What I have learned so far: There is no secret sauce. But learning to identify and establish strong value shapes helps make a watercolor painting go from "meh" to something extra ordinary. |
About MeI am a watercolor coach, watercolorist, and author. 
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