138 Advanced | TECHNIQUES
PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE
Here, sunlight from the right creates rims of light on
the backlit gures, with subdued and softened edges
in the muted background, unied with a shadow
wash. Cast shadows bring sunshine to the foreground.
Suggesting realistic shadows
Shadows are not random shapes and colors. For a
convincing cast shadow, note how its length and
direction is determined by the position of the sun.
Realistic shadows needn’t always be based on local
color; unify multiple shadows with a single wash.
Shadow direction
Shadows have a vanishing
point on the horizon and in
the sun. To calculate shadow
length, draw a line from the
sun across the top of the
object until it intersects
the shadow.
Vanishing point
of shadow directly
below sun
No. 14 and no. 6
soft-hair round brushes
10 x 14 in (25 x 35 cm)
cold press 140 lb (300 gsm)
watercolor paper
You will need
Phthalo blue
(green shade)
Quinacridone
magenta
Cadmium red
Burnt sienna
White
gouache
Indian yellow
French
ultramarine
Crowds in a piazza
Without shadow wash Shadows added in gray wash
Shadows
and sunlight
CREATING A SENSE OF LIGHT
Sunshine in a painting is only obvious
when there are shadows. Avoid subjects
that are either totally in shade or with the
sun behind you. Instead, look for a balance
of light and cast shadow that translates
into highlights and soft tones on paper.
Eye level
and horizon
Sun (vanishing point)
Shadow wash
The transparency of watercolor means you can create the look of
shadows with a single, gray shadow wash. This darkens the underlying
wash and avoids the need to mix dark versions of each color.
1
Subdued tones
Cover the paper with a warm wash and paint the
main shapes. Backlighting has the effect of blending
everything in subdued color, so paint the background
in a gray wash of French ultramarine and burnt sienna.
Drop color into the wet
wash to suggest gures
merging in the crowd
Soft hues establish
shaded buildings
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139 Shadows and sunlight
2
Add shadow wash
Add a shadow wash of ultramarine and
cadmium red over the buildings and gures.
Keep the wash as transparent as possible so
that underlying colors are visible.
3
Cast shadows
Use the shadow wash for cast shadows,
checking their length and direction, but don’t
worry too much about precise shapes. Keep
edges soft; don’t let them dry as you paint.
4
Final contrasts
With the no. 6 brush, add the deep
darks with a strong shadow mix, using white
gouache to add some highlights to the right
edges of the gures, where the sun hits.
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