Glass light

I have developed below a simple step-by-step demonstration based on my painting shown in the watercolour section of this web page. These are free and you may print them off if you wish.

I suggest you read all the instructions before attempting the watercolour painting to familiarise yourself with each instruction, because watercolour painting is all about timing (If you see a clock face image; timing is essential here)

Click on the image for enlarged picture.

Where you see the clock symbol, read the instructions carefully, it’s all about the time?

Good luck with your painting and I hope these inspire you ?

Suggested colours and materials

Suggested colours, as follows:

To produce this watercolour painting I have used the following colours: - Lemon yellow, Ultramarine, Cerulean blue, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium red, Burnt umber, Hooker’s green and Burnt sienna.

To enable the artist to retain the white of the paper, we use the method of masking out. I used a ruling pen and masking fluid (See Image) to mask out some highlights on the glass (See image). A Brush can be used to apply the masking fluid but wash out straight away because it ruins the brush if left to dry.

Sketch the painting

Step 1

Start by sketching your image of the glass bottles. Using the masking fluid; mask out the highlights(See image).

Painting the dark reflections

Step 3

Once dry, add the hooker green around the edges and also the dark reflections. (See image)

Painting the blue bottle

Step 5

Next we are going to use cerulean blue to paint the blue bottle. The colour is painted over the green / yellow bottle. Be careful not to brush too hard over the previous colour or apply too many coats of the blue; this may lift the green under-colour. Use the large round brush and using large brush stokes may help this process. (See image) leave to dry

Painting the bottle stopper

Step 7

Suggested brushes

Suggested brushes:

To produce this watercolour painting I used the following watercolour brushes: Medium flat brush, large round brush, small detail brush and small round brush.

Painting the back bottle

Step 2

Using the small round brush wet the back bottle with clean water, then using the lemon yellow start adding the colour. Mix a wash of lemon yellow and cerulean blue, to make a warm green. Add and merge the colour into the yellow on your paper mostly to the left hand side. (See image)

Painting the bottle stopper.

Step 4

Now we are going to paint the bottle stopper, using lemon yellow, burnt sienna, burnt umber with a touch of ultramarine on the dark areas. Let each colour blend into each other. (See image)

Painting the dark reflections

Step 6

Next we are going to paint the dark and light reflections, with combinations of ultramarine and the green mix of lemon yellow and cerulean blue, using the rigger and detail brush (see image)

Painting the red bottle

Step 8

Step 7

To paint the green bottle stop we are going to use the hooker’s green, then once dry add the darker highlights using a mixer of hooker’s green and a touch of ultramarine. Apply this using a small detail brush.( See image)

Painting the red bottle

Step 9

With a mixer of cadmium red and alizarin crimson paint the whole bottle, even going over the yellow. Be careful not to lift the yellow underneath. Use the large round brush and using large brush stokes may help this process. (See image) leave to dry.

Painting the bottle stopper

Step 11

Step 8

Before we can add the red to you last bottle, we need to paint the back yellow bottle first.

Paint the area on the red bottle using lemon yellow and a small detail brush. (See image) leave to dry before proceeding to the next step.

Painting the reflections

Step 10

Once the under painting is dry, mix up a wash of ultramarine and alizarin crimson. Using this wash and a small detail brush add the dark reflections to the bottle. (See image)

Painting the refleactions

Step 12

Step 11

Use a wash of alizarin crimson over the bottle stopper, and then add more colour using a mixer of ultramarine and alizarin crimson for the darker areas. Apply this with a small round brush. (See image)

Step 12

The reflections of the bottles are painted using all the colours in your pallet. Wet the paper below each of the bottles, and then apply each colour, letting them blend together. Use a large round brush. (See Image)

Painting the finishing touches

Step 13

When the paint is dry; rub off the masking fluid. Stand back and observe if the white areas need to be knocked back a bit, and are not jumping of the page. If this is the case soften off the white areas which some light washes. (See image)

Hope you have enjoyed