NEGATIVE PAINTING – Master the Essential Watercolor Technique & Level Up Your Art

This class is all about mastering the essential watercolor technique of Negative Painting. This technique involves painting around and between objects to reveal lighter shapes, allowing for intricate light details on dark backgrounds with this transparent medium.

We’ll start by covering the fundamentals of Negative Painting and reviewing three unique case studies where it can help overcome common watercolor challenges, such as creating 3-dimensional form on paper, intricate light details like leaf veins or bird feathers, and beautiful watercolor backgrounds.

Next, we’ll practice and master two scenarios by painting a tropical plant with intricate veins and a tiny ladybug with highlights, all using Negative Painting. We’ll cover topics like the materials needed (including preferred brands and alternatives), planning and applying layers of color for realistic light and shadow transitions, and tackling leaf and flower stems.

As a bonus, we’ll go over the process of mixing natural-looking greens with a limited palette, without having to overspend on new watercolor pigments. Additionally, we’ll have the opportunity to practice glazing technique, which allows for playing with color temperature and capturing natural light with watercolors.

Finally, I’ll share my tips for fixing watercolor mistakes using lifting technique. By the end of this class, you’ll have the skills and confidence to create beautiful, intricate watercolor paintings using the Negative Painting technique.