Black Kitten for Soft Edges, Values, and Black
Mix the Perfect Black for Your Palette
Is BLACK a bad word in watercolor?
This beginner lesson explains tube blacks and how to mix your own black to match your individual palette or painting. You'll also see how to paint soft, fuzzy edges by working wet on damp for any any animal or occasion where soft edges look best.
As always, this kitten comes complete with a background - a simple graded wash from light to dark, for more excellent practice. In downloads, you'll find an outline page, written instructions, the original reference photo (from Pixabay), and a finished painting pdf, plus a bonus pdf on Blacks in Watercolor. The video demonstration can be viewed on this site or, with the vimeo link, on Vimeo.
Happy painting!
Your Instructor
I'm a self taught artist and I love teaching!
My story is simple.
I showed a lot of interest and talent as a child, but my parents discouraged art as a waste of time. I spent my adult life as a nurse and raised a family - pretty busy. While I was home with the birth of my daughter, I bought a cheap set of watercolors and fell in love with the bloom of color. I told my husband, 'I'm going to keep painting with these until I get really good.'
Back then, not many painted realistic watercolors, so I practiced and tried things until I worked out my own style. It took a lot of trial and error,
. When I entered my first art show, I won two awards and was told I'd have to enter the professional category and not beginner. That frightened me soo much, I didn't enter again for years.
When my work began selling, I entered more shows with more great success. I worked very hard and became a full time professional artist and teacher.
Although my work has been recognized and featured in major exhibitions, books and magazines, I'm very down to earth, and just love painting.
No one has 'all the time in the world'. Paint now. You're never too old, it's never too late. Any bit of time you can practice will improve your skills.
And yes, this cowboy is a watercolor painting. (Reference photo used with permission by Diana Robinson)
Have fun and learn from a master - sign up today!