One of the things that I learned from a recent lesson is how to get good dark colors. I don't have the flowing look that you're after, since that's something that I intend to work on some more too.
The trick was to mix the paint to the consistency of gravy in the paint box, to make sure that you have enough, then it flows on pretty well and maintains its darkness.
What I was trying to do is to get some dark-looking leaves for a flower painting. The leaves were first underpainted with various lighter colors, then when dry, the thick dark color was put over top of it, then using the pointed end of the brush, veins were added to the leaves using the pointed brush end to remove paint and make the color underneath show through.
We also broke another "rule" by doing the dark leaves first, then the much lighter flower petals. I liked that technique so much that the first painting I did back at home used the same technique and I quite liked the result.
I happen to like high contrast watercolor paintings rather than the ones that use all light pastel colors.
One of these days I'll photograph what I've been doing lately and share with this group.
The trick was to mix the paint to the consistency of gravy in the paint box, to make sure that you have enough, then it flows on pretty well and maintains its darkness.
What I was trying to do is to get some dark-looking leaves for a flower painting. The leaves were first underpainted with various lighter colors, then when dry, the thick dark color was put over top of it, then using the pointed end of the brush, veins were added to the leaves using the pointed brush end to remove paint and make the color underneath show through.
We also broke another "rule" by doing the dark leaves first, then the much lighter flower petals. I liked that technique so much that the first painting I did back at home used the same technique and I quite liked the result.
I happen to like high contrast watercolor paintings rather than the ones that use all light pastel colors.
One of these days I'll photograph what I've been doing lately and share with this group.
