Watercolor Skies

Transparent Watercolor

Transparent Colors

Watercolors are referred

to as transparent paint.

This mean that if you

draw on paper with a

pencil and then paint

over the pencil, the mark

will show through the

paint.

Ink Silhouette

Imagine a early sunrise or late sunset where objects are seen as black silhouettes against the sky. Most of the usual details are filled in black, so it will be important to include great detail on the edges of your shapes to make them interesting.

Ink Silhouette

Draw your shapes

first in pencil, make

them fill and break up

the space in the

composition. Next

outline your shapes in

thin permanent marker.

Ink Silhouette

We are using permanent

waterproof ink because

regular markers would

bleed and smear using

them in combination

with watercolor paints.

Ink Silhouette

After the silhouettes

have been outlined move

up to a thicker marker to

fill in the smaller details.

Ink Silhouette

Next use a brush and

india ink to fill in the

large areas. The india

ink will save the ink pens

from wearing out.

Remember the ink is

permanent and will stain

your clothes.

Ink Silhouette

Erase any visible pencil

lines that are still

showing and make sure

you have good details in

the outside edge of your

silhouette shapes. Make

sure your name is on the

paper.

Watercolor Wash

In this experience you will learn the techniques for making watercolor skies. In most painting mediums this would be a time consuming process of mixing a wide range of blues. With a watercolor wash the different values of blue are created quickly.

Watercolor Wash

You will be painting with watercolor over the ink drawing. Prepare your watercolors first. Get a half cup of water, a clean brush and drip a few drops of water onto the color blue without touching it.

Watercolor Wash

Go to the sink and run

your paper under the

facet. Let it drip and then

take it to your table.

Load your brush with

blue and begin painting

across the paper from the

top moving down.

Watercolor Wash

Do not get more paint,

you want the blue to fade

as you work your way

down to the bottom of

the painting. If you look

outside you will notice

the sky also fades the

same way.

Watercolor Wash

Now quickly load your

brush with blue paint

and touch the wet

paper to form clouds.

The paint will blur and

create soft shaded clouds

as you work.

Watercolor Wash

If you wish to make

white clouds take a wad

of paper towel and dot it

on the paper to form

white clouds.

Watercolor Wash

The paper towel absorbs

the color, but this must

be done quickly while

the paper is still wet.

You may have a mixture

of white and dark clouds

in the same sky.

Example

Let your artwork sit on

the table for a few

minutes while you clean

up and put your water cups

and brushes away.

When the paper has no

standing water spots it

can be placed on the

drying rack.

Example

Example

Example

Example