How to create contrast
Watch the quick overview video:
Supplies
Your painting, pretty much finished. Maybe it looks done, but it’s a little flat. This technique will help it come to life!
A highlight color and a shadow color. In this video, I’m using Azo Yello and Gamboge for my highlight colors, and Cobalt Teal for my shadow color.
Why contrast?
Contrast is one of the five ‘C’s’ of watercolor (Correct, Composition, Color, Contrast, and Combination) and it’s important because it creates depth. Without contrast your paintings might look flat. Here we use contrast to define details, but more so to create the illusion of a light source coming in from the right side of the painting.
Steps
When your painting is dry, choose a highlight color(s) and a shadow color(s)
Start by applying the highlight color on the side/areas of the painting that have light shining on them. Apply your paint quick and smooth and rich (enough pigment) so you don’t lift up existing layers of paint and make it muddy. This is especially important if you are applying yellow, so you don’t make green if you lift up areas of blue. Then let it dry. If these areas are too light, apply another layer of highlight color after the first layer is dry.
Repeat with the shadow color(s) on the other side of the painting, where shadows would be.
You can also create more contrast by darkening dark areas with more of the same dark color. Also make sure to keep the brightest highlights white, as this alone will go a long way for creating contrast!
Too dark?
If some areas get too dark, don’t be afraid to lift out a bit of color and get some of that paper to show through again. You can lift color simply by using a clean, damp brush and painting plain water over those dark areas, which will soften the paint that’s already on your paper. Clean your brush and paint over that same area to lift off the softened paint. You can also wipe the softened paint with a paper towel.
That’s it! Let’s paint!
Questions? Ideas? - contact me! Lots of my tutorial ideas come straight from other watercolor artists- so please reach out using the contact form here.