Drawing Challenge#3 - How To Paint a Watercolor Apple

A Watercolor Journey

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Original art by @jnart
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I recently found #drawingchallenge hosted by @helene. I love the criteria that everyone has to make a how-to post, so we can all learn from each other. The theme was fruit so why not practice some watercolor technique? I'll guide you through how I made my apple. And please tell me what you think or give me critique on the painting or process. Thank you!

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Arches 300g, A3

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Set your stage. I had no fancy apples home so my buddy @reko's apples from latest dumpster diving would do.
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Make a sketch and apply masking fluid for the highlight.
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Prepare the colors you like in great amount not to run out while painting. I wanted to try out some pigments that granulate so I used Ultramarine Blue and Burnt Umber. Yellow Ochre, Light Red and Neutral Tint was fillers.
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Prepare with a spray bottle filled with water.
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Start with the colors of your choosing.
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Spray on water and let it run along the canvas by tilting.
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Add secondary colors - there is no right or wrong, only intuition.
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Maybe add some patterns.
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The only important task in this phase was to leave some whites - unpainted areas of the paper, especially in the apple.
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I let it dry.
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Tilt the canvas to avoid blooming effects.
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When dry, study your painting and see what to do next.
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Prepare colos for painting detail.
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Wet areas you want to paint with clear water. Then ad the darker tone where you can see the shadow.
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Use a tiny pencil for details. And as always with watercolor - remove colors applied in wrong places with paper or towel before it dries.
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(When you photo your process you can see where you should have stopped. I like the blooming but painted over it later in the process.)
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Look at the overall picture from time to time to see if something is incorrect.
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When you can see what the details look like - see if the background need some extra attention. I saw the need for a darker and cooler background. I applied color and used the spray bottle one last time.
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If necessary, remove paint with a brush or toothbrush (when the painting is dry). It works better with non-staining color. And you must have good quality watercolor paper.
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Tadaa! I might keep on working on it but think it's kind of finished.
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Hope this inspires - See ya!

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And click here for my tutorial on Repetitive Patterns and Celtic Patterns

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Head_smal7

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