Watercolor Week 1


Week One
About Watercolor, Light,Geometric Shapes, and Washes

The presentation from our class is below in video format (no sound) and you can stop it anywhere you wish.

  • Class Presentation on Watercolor, Paper and Light (no sound)
  • Presentation on Line Types!
  • Light as it Applies to Geometric Forms and Natural Objects (Creative Commons Video)
  • Basic Geometric Forms: Light and Shadow
  • Image of page of today’s demo:
    Image of demo 1 including color tests
  • Week One Exercises  (3 Tasks)
    • Task 1: Ball and Shadow (Spherical shape)
      Place a ball on a white sheet of paper. Draw the ball in a contour pencil line then fill in with a new color in watercolor. Create the light and shadow using a round brush. The shadow can be done with a gradient wash (lightening as it moves away from the form). Instead of choosing gray for the shadow consider blue or purple.
    • Task 2: Box and Shadow (Cubic shape)
      Place a small square or rectangular box (like a white standard jewelry box) on a white sheet of paper. Draw the box in pencil and then fill in using watercolor. Use a round and flat brush. The shadow can be done with a gradient wash in blue or purple. Use the same concept of lightening as the shadow moves away from the object.
    • Task 3: The White Coffee Cup (Cylindrical shape)
      Set up a white coffee cup. on a white sheet of paper. Draw the cup with a contour pencil line then fill in with a new color in watercolor. Careful with those ellipses! Create the light and shadow using a round and flat brush. The shadow can be done with a gradient wash in blue or purple (lightening as it moves away from the form).
      When done you may attach your three watercolors in an email and send for a critique. A video critique will be returned. Critiquing is optional.
  • Suggested Books:
    Simon Jennings: The Complete Artist’s Manual
    Victoria Finlay: Color: A Natural History of the Palette
  • Here is a Zoom meeting of James McElhenny’s presentation “The Sketchbook Traveler” which is WONDERFUL (Hudson River School) – he covers pans and small sketchbooks and the history of portable painting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shNozVYD-cg
  • James’ site: https://www.mcelhinneyart.com/