Give it form

Mar 07, 2025

∙ Paid

In the last post we practiced soft edges, so let’s extend this idea to create form.

This is a very relaxing exercise, akin to mindful doodling. But it’s also a useful technique to have in your repertoire.

Load your brush with a strong mix, this is your “dark side” of the object you’re painting. We’ll start with trees.
Make a straight line, as thin or thick as you want
WIth a clean, damp brush (I use a 2nd brush), drag along the painted line and dilute it. Again, make it as thick or thin as you like.
Repeat and paint as many as you like, with as many colours and different brushes as you like
Experiment with texture—drop in horizontal stripes, splatters, or a second color to suggest bark.

You can see how easily this can turn into a forest painting.

This same idea works for other things as well, like rocks. I’ve painted the dark bottom part first, then draged clean water upwards.

This simple exercise builds muscle memory for controlling water and pigment flow, a core skill in watercolor.
Gradients are the key to making objects look three-dimensional. They show how light falls across a surface, making a cylinder look round, or a sphere glow

To your gradient success!
Patrick

Continue reading this post for free, courtesy of Patrick Visser.