How to fix the common mistake that beginner watercolour painters often make with shadows.

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  • Опубліковано 4 січ 2025

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  • @nifty1337
    @nifty1337 5 місяців тому +76

    Oh my word! I would never have thought painting the shadow colour first would be so effective. When you first painted the purple I thought how is that going to look remotely lemon like. Final result is pretty amazing. Thank you 😊

    • @thinkwatercolour
      @thinkwatercolour  5 місяців тому +11

      Thanks for your kind words, That's the magic of the transparency of watercolour. Give it a try.

    • @shilohpointfarm8544
      @shilohpointfarm8544 5 місяців тому +4

      Agreed! Never seen that before and I love the look.

  • @jamesyoungquist6923
    @jamesyoungquist6923 5 місяців тому +39

    Thanks, cool technique! Painting shadows with complementary colors does have biological inspiration: Our eyes are less color sensitive in low light, and the complement color desaturates as well as darken. The main object also picks up bounce light from the environment, so flesh tones in green fields have that additional green + red --> gray effect

  • @caiocesar4827
    @caiocesar4827 5 місяців тому +24

    That's Amazing! As a beginner myself that has been told that watercolor should be painted from light to dark, this just broke my mind! Thanks so much for the video!

    • @thinkwatercolour
      @thinkwatercolour  5 місяців тому +11

      I nearly always work from the lightest light to the darkest dark, especially with landscapes, and that's good advice. But it's not a rule.
      I try to give tips that will help people to understand how watercolours work. This tip for shadows is aimed at helping beginners to try new ways of painting and help them to develop skills. Glad you found it helpful. Good luck with your painting.

  • @JohannaSchmidt-v3e
    @JohannaSchmidt-v3e 5 місяців тому +25

    This video was incredibly helpful. By demonstrating what newer painter typically do and how to do it differently made all the difference. Thank you for walking us through this step by step. I felt like I was in an art class.

    • @thinkwatercolour
      @thinkwatercolour  5 місяців тому +3

      That's kind of you to say that. So glad it helped you. New video on blending shadows wet in wet coming shortly.

  • @Kate-sp1vx6vz9z
    @Kate-sp1vx6vz9z 5 місяців тому +15

    This is one of the most useful tutorials I have ever seen. (And I have watched a *lot* of them.)
    Thank you!!

  • @rebeccasmith612
    @rebeccasmith612 5 місяців тому +17

    Ridiculous! Amazing! I just… I’m speechless! The result is incredible but it really is actually beginner-friendly. I’m so excited to try this out, thank you!

  • @1TimothyFourTen
    @1TimothyFourTen 5 місяців тому +13

    Aw very nice! Thank you! I appreciate being shown an unrealistic shadow painting style next to the more realistic style. It really is very helpful.

  • @datnastysalad5616
    @datnastysalad5616 5 місяців тому +5

    This is something that I have gotten used to when doing digital art! By separating the steps of the basic shadows and base colors, its so much easier to approch. Cool to see how it translates to traditional art!

  • @ashleywright8686
    @ashleywright8686 5 місяців тому +6

    I have mastered blending quite well, but never would’ve thought to do shadowing first! Wow! TYSM for this terrific tutorial! ❤

  • @Lozbinator
    @Lozbinator 5 місяців тому +4

    This is one of the most informative and useful videos I've watched, thank you very much!

  • @user-nd7rg5er5g
    @user-nd7rg5er5g 4 місяці тому +1

    Thank you so much for explaining so clearly the process of applying the paint! So many youtubers assume that the viewer already knows how difficult the wet-in-wet technique can be for beginners, and I'm glad to see this video relate to watercolor newbies so well!

  • @lukericketts4055
    @lukericketts4055 5 місяців тому +7

    This is an amazing tutorial, thank you so simple, I struggle with blending shadows

  • @GWAIHIRKV
    @GWAIHIRKV 5 місяців тому +5

    I think this video will grow your channel more than any previous. Thank you. It made me subscribe and I don’t paint!

  • @RaiHan-rh6uv
    @RaiHan-rh6uv 6 днів тому

    Wow this is too helpful ❤ thank you so much. The way you teach is so easy to understand.

  • @juliebarfoot7751
    @juliebarfoot7751 5 місяців тому +2

    What a fantastic video. As a beginner I have scrolled so many channels trying to understand watercolours, and by far this is the best 13 mins I’ve ever watched. Immediately subscribed, initially a bit intimidated by your thumbnails (beautiful paintings ) but on watching some, your such a good teacher! Actually exited again to get my paints out 🥰

    • @thinkwatercolour
      @thinkwatercolour  5 місяців тому

      Thank you. I'm so glad you found it helpful.

  • @triciabennetts6578
    @triciabennetts6578 5 місяців тому +3

    Brilliant technique - Thankyou so much for sharing!😊

    • @thinkwatercolour
      @thinkwatercolour  5 місяців тому

      Thank for your kind words. Hope you found it useful.

  • @osoreo3697
    @osoreo3697 5 місяців тому +1

    Wowowow every time I use watercolor “dark to light” is drilled into my head-never would’ve thought to do this!

  • @ainestewart8775
    @ainestewart8775 5 місяців тому +1

    That is so great and puts me in mind of one of my favourite painters,
    Vermeer. Thank you so much!

  • @kennyiklei
    @kennyiklei 2 місяці тому

    Thank you very much. Very useful and informative. I’m new to painting and I’ve learned a lot from you in this video.

    • @thinkwatercolour
      @thinkwatercolour  2 місяці тому

      So glad you found it useful. Good luck with your watercolours and thanks for the feedback.

  • @jlgillis914
    @jlgillis914 5 місяців тому

    Painting the shadow first is a game changer!! Thanks for this tip it worked brilliantly. Love your videos and always learn new things.

  • @sweethomes674
    @sweethomes674 27 днів тому

    Excellent explanations and techniques 😊

  • @carmenmagda1
    @carmenmagda1 5 місяців тому

    I have found this exercise very useful, not only for learning how to create the shadows but also for blending in and softening the edges. I was not able to do it before, this exercise gave me more confidence. I would like more videos like this please 🥰

    • @thinkwatercolour
      @thinkwatercolour  5 місяців тому

      Glad to be of help. I'll try to do more instructional videos.

  • @jv7043
    @jv7043 3 місяці тому

    Such a helpful piece of instruction!!

    • @thinkwatercolour
      @thinkwatercolour  3 місяці тому +1

      So glad to be of help. Thanks for the feedback.

  • @NMranchhand
    @NMranchhand 5 місяців тому

    What a useful, insightful, and clear demonstration that was! Thanks very much. Subscribed!

  • @lindagrace2
    @lindagrace2 5 місяців тому

    That's gorgeous work well taught, thank you! I'm going to try this ... just beautiful!

  • @ky1972
    @ky1972 5 місяців тому

    This video was so helpful thank you. I will definitely try the complimentary color trick.

  • @kim-pd4fy
    @kim-pd4fy 4 місяці тому

    That was truly amazing, the difference!! Wow

  • @fadge4105
    @fadge4105 5 місяців тому +1

    Great Instruction, thank you so much. I immediately subscribed.

  • @unrulymuse764
    @unrulymuse764 4 місяці тому

    Wonderfully helpful! Thank you!

  • @dmat7148
    @dmat7148 5 місяців тому

    This is very helpful because they always say to paint the shadows last

  • @b.comeau2597
    @b.comeau2597 5 місяців тому

    Amazing difference! Thank you for this detailed demonstration!❤

  • @Davepacheco1986
    @Davepacheco1986 5 місяців тому

    Wow, that's so cool. Cannot wait to try this.

    • @thinkwatercolour
      @thinkwatercolour  5 місяців тому

      Glad to help. Just make sure your first wash is completely dry before you paint the second wash. Good luck and keep practicing.

  • @milehighslacker4196
    @milehighslacker4196 5 місяців тому

    Very nice! This is the first video of yours that I have ever watched. I did not notice you had a blue glove on until you pointed it out!

  • @chrismichaeluk
    @chrismichaeluk 5 місяців тому

    That is genius. Would never have thought of that. Great video

  • @Lindaw1811
    @Lindaw1811 4 місяці тому

    Wow! This is SO helpful!

  • @MJ-hl1kk
    @MJ-hl1kk 5 місяців тому

    Wow, excellent demonstration, thank you!!

  • @Siriuslyyy
    @Siriuslyyy 5 місяців тому

    Thank you! I've saved it in my practice playlist

    • @thinkwatercolour
      @thinkwatercolour  5 місяців тому

      Practice brings success, keep going. Thanks.

  • @edwigepetit7774
    @edwigepetit7774 4 місяці тому

    Une vidéo accessible aux débutants et le rendu ce ce citron est si réel merci bravo

  • @joykruczay
    @joykruczay 5 місяців тому

    Thanks to YT algorithms, this popped up in my feed. After clicking on your many other video choice, I immediately subscribed. Thanks ever so much for sharing your talents with the world! BTW, I just love "your" TV dramas and am a huge Anglophile, watching British (and foreign language) content almost exclusively.

  • @titiaprins5575
    @titiaprins5575 4 місяці тому

    Thank you for this video lesson 👍🏽

  • @JoeJoe-uo5hf
    @JoeJoe-uo5hf 4 місяці тому

    Great video. Have only really had a serious interest in watercolour for ~year but have watched A LOT of beginner/advice tutorials in that time🤣and this is up there in the most helpful/accessible stakes. You appeared in my feed today for the first time - not sure why! but (looking at your video history) this seems to be your first 'technique'video and its gone down rather well!! Just saying 😊

    • @thinkwatercolour
      @thinkwatercolour  4 місяці тому

      Thanks. You have a point. I will try to make more teaching videos. Any suggestions for what you might need help with?

  • @EA-rn3tx
    @EA-rn3tx 4 місяці тому

    Amazing! Learned a lot. Thank you

  • @rajeevkatarya2911
    @rajeevkatarya2911 5 місяців тому

    Great. Excellent. I was struggling with this. Thanks for showing it so clearly. May i request you to also show us the other method you mentioned? Where you do the shadows wet on wet. You mentioned it in this video. Thanks a ton.

    • @thinkwatercolour
      @thinkwatercolour  5 місяців тому

      Glad it was of use. Yes I will do a video showimg wet in wet soon.

  • @flaviomadeiramirandafilho3469
    @flaviomadeiramirandafilho3469 4 місяці тому

    this was amazing

  • @lovewillwinnn
    @lovewillwinnn 5 місяців тому

    Outstanding! 🍋 🖌 you have a new subscriber. ❤

  • @teresacrain2060
    @teresacrain2060 4 місяці тому

    Thank you 😊

  • @esmaakis
    @esmaakis 2 місяці тому

    😳 😱 incredible

  • @jvmastro1238
    @jvmastro1238 5 місяців тому

    Thank you for sharing!

  • @Yomi-san
    @Yomi-san 5 місяців тому +2

    The original lemon wasn’t blended which may have improved the first image but Inagree the complimentarybcolour makes a difference. Could you have layered in the shadow second and got the same result?

    • @thinkwatercolour
      @thinkwatercolour  5 місяців тому +1

      Yes, it works either way, but it's usually easier to see and paint the shadow first.

    • @Yomi-san
      @Yomi-san 5 місяців тому +1

      @@thinkwatercolour okay. I will give it a go. I will check out your other videos 😊👍🏻

  • @pesto12601
    @pesto12601 5 місяців тому +1

    GENIUS!!! Subscribed!!!

    • @thinkwatercolour
      @thinkwatercolour  5 місяців тому +1

      Thanks for your kind words, That's the magic of the transparency of watercolour. Give it a try.

    • @pesto12601
      @pesto12601 5 місяців тому +1

      @@thinkwatercolour I actually gave it a whirl... perhaps it is the paper I'm using (Zeta series Birn Album) but I could not achieve these beautiful washes to blend those colors as such. My version is very splotchy even though I followed this to a T... I think the paper could be the issue.. though I also think water control and the amount of paint is critical for watercoloring like this?

    • @thinkwatercolour
      @thinkwatercolour  5 місяців тому

      @@pesto12601 You have to have the first wash completely dry otherwise the second wash will disturb the first wash, especially if the second wash is too watery. The paper needs to be good quality 140lb
      /300g so that may be the problem too. Just keep practicing.

    • @pesto12601
      @pesto12601 5 місяців тому

      @@thinkwatercolour Thx.. I think although I waited for the wash to dry.. I didn't wait long enough. going to give it try #2 this afternoon and use my heat gun on the paper to speed up the drying.. hopefully that was it. If it still looks "muddy", I'll pull out my good paper and see if that makes a difference. Appreciate the advice!!

  • @watsonwrote
    @watsonwrote 4 місяці тому

    Wearing gloves while working with many paints is a good idea because of the carcinogens in colors like cadmium and chrome. My professor was pretty diligent about us minimizing exposure to the toxic chemicals in paint

    • @thinkwatercolour
      @thinkwatercolour  4 місяці тому

      @@watsonwrote Thanks for the advice, but I was only wearing the glove to keep a bandage dry. I don’t normally wear gloves when using watercolours.

  • @ShirleiBarnes
    @ShirleiBarnes 5 місяців тому

    So useful, great tip!

  • @StereoSpace
    @StereoSpace 5 місяців тому

    Interesting technique.

    • @thinkwatercolour
      @thinkwatercolour  5 місяців тому

      It's a video to help beginners to understand the transparency and magic of watercolours, not a definitive technique. Blending wet in wet works better for more experienced painters. Video on that coming soon.

  • @VintageHart1
    @VintageHart1 4 місяці тому

    Thank you!

  • @MidnightMelodie
    @MidnightMelodie 5 місяців тому +1

    I’d never seen that method of painting the shadow first. Can you only do that if your shadow color is a staining pigment or does it not matter?

    • @thinkwatercolour
      @thinkwatercolour  5 місяців тому +2

      It's fine to use staining pigments. Just make sure your shadow is completely dry before applying your second wash.

  • @batcactus6046
    @batcactus6046 5 місяців тому +2

    Don't diss the cartoon orange/lemon. It's cute, too.

  • @mygracecottage
    @mygracecottage 5 місяців тому

    Very helpful thank you!

  • @KaiSub
    @KaiSub 4 місяці тому

    wow it's like using a multiply layer in digital art!

  • @JoeJoe-uo5hf
    @JoeJoe-uo5hf 4 місяці тому

    have subscribed obviously ☺

  • @SusanBooth-cm9fh
    @SusanBooth-cm9fh 5 місяців тому

    Thankyou.

  • @noelc8927
    @noelc8927 5 місяців тому +1

    Do cast shadows have terminator lines also? Or are terminator lines an effect of form?

    • @thinkwatercolour
      @thinkwatercolour  5 місяців тому +1

      Terminator lines are part of form shadows. Cast shadows don't have terminator lines, they are created by the object, or form, blocking the light source. However cast shadows rarely have a sharp edge unless there is a very strong light source close by. Hope this helps.

    • @noelc8927
      @noelc8927 5 місяців тому

      @@thinkwatercolour noted, thanks for the help!

    • @iHeartAMP
      @iHeartAMP 5 місяців тому

      ​@@noelc8927Scotts Roberts How to Render Highly recommended

  • @kevinhardy8997
    @kevinhardy8997 5 місяців тому +2

    When life gives you lemons, paint a lemon.

  • @vibrantparticles
    @vibrantparticles 4 місяці тому

    You dropped the reflection of white from the table on part of the lemons underside, which would add also more 3D Effect.

    • @thinkwatercolour
      @thinkwatercolour  4 місяці тому

      You’re absolutely correct, however this demo is aimed at beginners so I tried to keep it as simple as possible. But well spotted. Thanks for the feedback.

  • @iHeartAMP
    @iHeartAMP 5 місяців тому

    Do these techniques work with black chinese ink?

    • @thinkwatercolour
      @thinkwatercolour  5 місяців тому

      I haven't tried chinese ink, but it does work with black indian ink. You just have to add a little water to blend across the terminator line of the shadow. Hope this helps.

    • @iHeartAMP
      @iHeartAMP 5 місяців тому

      @@thinkwatercolour they are same 😅 but thanks, I was struggling last night trying to blend shadows. I'm a try tonight

  • @davidaugustofc2574
    @davidaugustofc2574 5 місяців тому

    Does this work with colouring pencils as well?

    • @thinkwatercolour
      @thinkwatercolour  5 місяців тому

      I doubt that you can do this with colouring pencils, but you may be able to do it with watercolour pencils. I've never tried, so give it a go.

  • @differenttakethanmost
    @differenttakethanmost 5 місяців тому +3

    Another thing amateurs do is use brushes that are too small. It takes ten times as long to mix and move the paint 🤦🏻‍♀️
    Using a detail brush to lay in color washes, rank: amateur ✅

    • @thinkwatercolour
      @thinkwatercolour  5 місяців тому +1

      That's true. Always use a bigger brush than you think you need.

  • @timetravellingblockhead2122
    @timetravellingblockhead2122 4 місяці тому

    WOW.

  • @myalicioglu
    @myalicioglu 5 місяців тому

    I love my oil painting medium😅

  • @UP-zq1ml
    @UP-zq1ml 5 місяців тому +1

    Why not do the other way around ? Paint the lemon in yellow and then paint over the shadow side in purple

    • @thinkwatercolour
      @thinkwatercolour  5 місяців тому +5

      You can do it that way as well. I just painted the shadow first because it's easier for beginners to see the blending of the shadow on white paper. There are no rules in painting. Do as you wish and have some fun with your paints.

    • @UP-zq1ml
      @UP-zq1ml 5 місяців тому +1

      @@thinkwatercolour Great, thank you for answering ! 🤗

    • @ThereIsNoHorseInTheAtlas
      @ThereIsNoHorseInTheAtlas 5 місяців тому

      I actually saw some shorts that did it that way and it was kiiinda not the same
      Try it!

  • @arrystophanes7909
    @arrystophanes7909 5 місяців тому

    As an amateur I often feel like a real lemon

    • @thinkwatercolour
      @thinkwatercolour  5 місяців тому +1

      I've been painting for what seems like a hundred years and I still paint the odd lemon of a painting!

  • @PaulfromChicago
    @PaulfromChicago 5 місяців тому

    English person uses Imperial Purple.......
    Rest of the world: We've got our eyes on you.
    In all seriousness, thanks. Great video.

    • @thinkwatercolour
      @thinkwatercolour  5 місяців тому +2

      Thanks, Glad you liked it. Sorry about the Imperial.

    • @PaulfromChicago
      @PaulfromChicago 5 місяців тому

      @@thinkwatercolour I really appreciate that information about how to use that color wheel. That was really useful. I learned a lot from your video.

    • @thinkwatercolour
      @thinkwatercolour  5 місяців тому

      Glad it was useful

  • @Jackie.D329
    @Jackie.D329 5 місяців тому

    Why am I and my newbie methods in this video? 😂

  • @Sara-ye9ov
    @Sara-ye9ov 5 місяців тому

    I have benefited. Can you put the Arabic language?

    • @thinkwatercolour
      @thinkwatercolour  5 місяців тому +2

      You can translate any youtube video to your language. Turn on subtitles [cc] press the cogwheel and press auto translate then choose your language. Here's a link to a video to show you how. ua-cam.com/video/LZz03myFuWA/v-deo.html

    • @usajane1
      @usajane1 5 місяців тому

      I subscribed. Brilliant!

    • @thinkwatercolour
      @thinkwatercolour  5 місяців тому +2

      Thanks

  • @loftikuss
    @loftikuss 4 місяці тому

    the common mistake is what the guy here already does- copying stuff instead of drawing your own.
    also it is not even a mistake here but 2 total different styles??? like YOUR shadow looks also not realistic and way off from the reference. way too purple . so the left one color wise is closer.

  • @Felmyst
    @Felmyst 5 місяців тому

    Left is better.

    • @thinkwatercolour
      @thinkwatercolour  5 місяців тому

      Neither is right or wrong.

    • @Felmyst
      @Felmyst 5 місяців тому

      @@thinkwatercolour no. Other wrong.

  • @mariannaamethyst6381
    @mariannaamethyst6381 4 місяці тому

    Great tutorial!!! Thank you!