Watercolour Beyond the Basics: Form & Value (Dec 12)

What makes an object in a painting look three-dimensional instead of flat? The answer has less to do with colour than you might think. Value—the relative lightness or darkness of what we see—is one of the most important tools we have for creating form, depth and dimension.

In this 4-hour Watercolour Beyond the Basics workshop, we’ll explore how light and shadow describe the form of an object and learn to translate what we see into watercolour.

We’ll begin by creating a watercolour value scale, learning how to control light and dark through the balance of pigment and water. From there, we’ll work with simple forms to identify highlights, midtones, core shadows, reflected light and cast shadows—and see how these value changes can transform a flat shape into something that appears three-dimensional.

Next, we’ll complete a small monochromatic value study, simplifying a reference into a limited number of light, medium and dark values. This exercise will help you learn to see value without the distraction of colour.

Finally, we’ll bring everything together in a simple still-life painting of white objects. Working with a limited palette will allow us to concentrate on subtle shifts in value and discover how surprisingly little paint is needed to create convincing form.

During this workshop, you will:

• Create a watercolour value scale and practice controlling value
• Explore how light and shadow create three-dimensional form
• Identify highlights, midtones, core shadows, reflected light and cast shadows
• Simplify a subject into clear areas of light, medium and dark
• Complete a monochromatic value study
• Create a simple still life of white objects using value to establish form and depth

You’ll leave with a stronger understanding of how to see and use value—a skill that can make an enormous difference in almost every watercolour painting you create.

Each Watercolour Beyond the Basics workshop stands on its own, so there’s no need to take them in order—simply choose the topics that interest you most.

Materials

*Note: These materials are everything you’ll need for this class and will provide you with paint, palette, and brushes to take home. If you already have materials, please see supply list for this class’s requirements.