The Art of Carol Santora
               Capturing the spirit of animals in pastel

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Watercolor Lessons

TIPS & Techniques:
  • do a light pencil drawing
  • work light to dark
  • use fewer colors for control
  • wet-into-wet: light ---> middle-tone ---> dark
  • mass big shapes, large flat washes
  • ways to work:
    background ---> middle ground ---> foreground
    foreground ---> middle ground ---> background
  • details last
  • note light source and shadows
  • always have a test strip to test colors
  • colors dry lighter
  • leave white of paper next to watercolor, colors reflect & are brighter
  • loosen up: hold brush at top end = freer, more expressive strokes
Definition of Terms:
  • wash - lots of water
  • dry brush - paint with no water
  • test strip - to test colors
  • graded wash - starts dark, add water to lighten color
  • wet-into-wet - wet paper first then add color; or lay down wash and add color; have little control
  • layered wash/glazing - paint fairly thin then let it dry thoroughly, paint over it with another color (lightly so as not to disturb first layer).
  • Work light to dark, not more than 3 layers of color.
  • loose drawing - outline drawing for shape; then draw with brush around edge, go back while still wet with clearer water to decrease the hard line-edge to create a gradation.

Drawing Lessons•  Pastel Notes•  Watercolor Lessons•  Watercolor Terms
Color and Landscape Painting•  Five Tone Values•  Basic Color
Oil Painting Lessons•  Oil Painting Tips•  Oil Painting Methods


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