Watercolour step by step

Step by step guide to paint the Evening stroll painting.

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 :).

Click on the image for enlarged picture.

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

Colour suggestions

Suggested colours

To produce this watercolour painting I have used the following colours: - Cadmium Yellow, Raw Sienna, Ultramarine and Rose Madder or Alizarin Crimson.

Step 1 - sketch the painting

Step 1

Sketch lightly the basic outlines of the trees and mark where the eye line (horizon) is placed. See step 2 for a closer look.

Step 3 - sky

Step 3

Using the large round brush pick up some of the Cadmium Yellow watercolour paint and lay the colour around the sun position, leave the sun white of the paper, (see the image for further detail).This is called wet in wet technique, which allows the paint to run, bleed into each other forming soft edges.

Step 3 cont - sky

Step 3 cont

Then using the Rose madder place alongside the Yellow colours both top and bottom. Then using the Rose madder and Ultramarine blue mix to create a warm purple this is add distance trees alone the eye line. More Yellow can be added towards the top of the sky. (See painting for further details)

Step 5 - Adding foliage

Step 5

Using the same colour as step 4 we will suggest that the trees have some leaves. Using the large round brush paint, various brush mark, wet on dry, to give a sense of foliage.

Step 7 - Adding the main trees

Step 7

The trees in the mid ground are next; we will start with the trees on the left which are cooler in tone as they are further away from the source of light. Mix a purple colour using Ultramarine and Rose Madder less water than the previous trees, to make a stronger mix. Using the large round brush paint in the tree trunks add raw sienna to the right hand side of the tree to show how the light hits the trunks. (see image for more detail) then while the paint is still wet look at step 8 use the cocktail stick to scratch in texture of the bark trunks. Use the rigger brush to paint the thinner branches.

Step 8 - Cocktail sticks

Step 8

Cocktail sticks can be used for various techniques in watercolour and a good tool to have in your watercolour kit.

Step 9 - light

Step 9

“Shadows” because of the strong evening sunlight, there is going to be shadows from the tress and also the light streaming through too (see image) Use the large round brush and the Cadmium Yellow to paint in the light, wet on dry.

Step 10 - Fence

Step 10

The next step is to paint the fence with a mixer of Cadmium yellow, ultramarine and Rose madder, using the rigger brush. Again being aware of the light and how it reflects on the tops of the fence. (See image)

Step 12 -Flowers

Step 12

Last of all we are going to add the flower shapes. Use a mixer of the Ultramarine and Rose Madder to create a purple mix. Then using the tip of the round brush, place a series of brush marks to create flower shapes. You can also warm the purple mix by adding more Rose madder to the flowers in the sunlight areas. (See image)

Brush suggestions

Brushes used

To produce this watercolour painting i used the followingwatercolour brushes:- A Large Flat brush, a size 10 Round and a Rigger brush.

Step 2 - wetting the paper

Step 2

Wet the paper down to the eye line with the large flat brush and wait until the paper as absorbed most of the water. (Until the shine as gone off, see the shine in the image above to understanding what I am describing)

Step 3 cont - sky

Step 3 cont

Then clean your brush and pick up the Raw sienna adding this colour alone the sky and allowing it to bleed into the Cadmium yellow.

Step 4 - Distant trees

Step 4

Once the sky is dry, we can add the trees in-between the sketch tress you have draw earlier. Mix the Ultramarine and Rose madder to create a pale purple, to get the colour to go paler you add more water to dilute the colour. Then free hand using the large round brush paint wet on dry trunk shapes. (see image for details) be careful not to fill in too many.

Step 6 - Painting the mid-ground

Step 6

Starting at the eye line using the wet on dry technique, pick up the Cadmium Yellow with your large round and blend down towards the foreground adding the Rose madder and Ultramarine, overlapping as not to form stripes. (See image for more details)

Step 7 cont -

Step 7 cont.

The next step is the trees over on the right hand side, wet on dry add the same mixer as the left hand trees but this time a lot more Raw sienna is added round the sunlight source. (see image for further details).

Step 8 cont - Scratching

Step 8 cont.

While the paint is wet scratch the watercolour paper, being careful not to tear the paper. The paint will then lay in the starch marks and will darken in colour. If the leave the paint to a damp stage of drying, when you scratch the cocktail stick will push away the paint leaving the white of the paper.

Step 9 cont - shadows

Step 9 Cont.

Now add in the shadows using a mixer of Ultramarine, Rose madder and the large round brush, allowing it to bleed into the yellow.( see image)

Step 11 - Grass

Step 11

Next we will add the grass to the foreground, using a mixer of Ultramarine and Cadmium Yellow. Make a warm yellow green mixer and use this tone for the grass which lays in the sunlight. Then for the grass in shadow of the trees use a darker green with more Ultramarine. I used both the rigger brush and the large round brush to create various lengths and shapes of the grass to make it look less regimented. (See image)

Step 13 - Ta Dah the finished painting.

Step 13

The finished painting, stand back and soak in the lovely image you have produce.