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The easy way to paint a basket using watercolors.

Part 1 - Painting the basket

This is a big lesson, so its split into two parts. In the first part we will draw a basket with tomatoes in and around it. Then we will mask out the tomatoes, and finally paint the basket.

You will learn how to supplement the sizing of the watercolor paper with gum arabic. That's to make the pain be easily lifted. We can then "erase" the watercolor paint anytime we want; even after it has dried. Then you will learn my very simple technique for "weaving" the basket."

Though this first part of the lesson takes about twenty minutes, once you know how, you can easily paint a basket like this very quickly. I paint this image small enough to fit on a "greeting card", in just a few minutes. That delights Mrs. Watercolor who gives them out pretty regularly.

Much of the "trick" is the choice of sedimentary colors, which I discuss. Non sedimentary pigments are much harder to lift.

This painting is mostly warm colors, the basket is a light brown, that is, dark yellow through dark orange. Even the paper has a slight mustard color cast to it. Only the shadow is cool, and that is definitely blue.

On To Part Two


MATERIALS LIST

Hover Or Click
A Color For Information

Sedimentary Warm        

Burnt Sienna

A sedimentary color; sediments quickly offering a mottled or shimmery look to the final (wash)

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Viridian

A sedimentary color; sediments quickly offering a mottled or shimmery look to the final (wash)

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Pthalocyanine Blue

A "warm" (greenish) blue.

A non sedimentary color settles out smoothly yielding a uniform finish (wash)

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Pyrrol Red

A "warm" (orangish) red.

A non sedimentary color settles out smoothly yielding a uniform finish (wash)

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Arylide Yellow FGL

A "warm" (orangish) yellow.

A non sedimentary color settles out smoothly yielding a uniform finish (wash)

There is not an industry standard name for this color. I am offering DaVincis Brand name.

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Yellow Ocher

A sedimentary color.

sediments quickly offering a mottled or shimmery look to the final (wash)

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Cerulean Blue

A sedimentary color.

Sediments quickly offering a mottled or shimmery look to the final (wash)

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Ultramarine Blue

A cool (purplish) blue.

A non sedimentary color settles out smoothly, theoretically yielding a uniform final (wash).

Actually Ultramarine Blue "flocculates" (gathers in clumps) so we only get a fairly smooth (wash)

Sadly, it's the only purplish blue thats light-fast and available to artists.

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Alizarin Crimson
( Quinacridone )

A cool (purplish) red.

A non sedimentary color settles out smoothly yielding a uniform finish (wash)

n fact, Alizarine Crimson (a very early man made pigment) lost favor when it was found non light-fast.

Today we replace it it with a better version of the same color called Quinacdridone Red.

Nevertheless, manufacturers still call it Alizerine Crimson.

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Arylide Yellow Deep

A cool (greenish) yellow

A non sedimentary color settles out smoothly yielding a uniform finish (wash)

There is not an industry standard name for this color. I am offering the DaVincis Brand name.

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Cool        
Brushes

Brushes

I use mostly "Kolinsky" (Highest quality) red sable brushes. I also have some nylon brushes that are pretty amazing. They are on the high priced side of nylon brush prices.

Brushes do the actual painting. If the brush cannot do it ; neither can you. If you are a beginner, you should watch my videos All About Brushes.
and
Watercolor Brushes – What to look for when buying them.

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Papers

watercolor Paper

I use 140 pound cold pressed paper.

I buy "full sheets". Everyone will know that means 22" x 30". They are actually a little oversized which is true for all "mold made" papers.

Heavier thicknesses than 140 pound are nice but more expensive. "Rough" as opposed to cold pressed is also nice.

"Arches" brand; actual spelled D'Arches by the manufacturer.

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Palettes

Palettes

PALETTE Has Two Meanings

1) The selection of paints available to the artist.

2) The surface upon which the paints are stored and mixed.

In this case, the paint holder is a cut down ice cube tray. It stores, along with a wet sponge, in a zip lock bag. That keeps the paint fresh.

For a mixing surface I use a flat sheet of white plastic.

Another good one is clear plastic with white paper under it. A matte surface is preferable to a shiny one.

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Wet in wet painting
A Wet In Wet Watercolor Painting Lesson.
Captain Watercolor Demonstrates How To Create Depth In A Painting.
How To Create Depth In A Painting.
Captain Watercolor demonstrates how to paint a basket. A lesson in lifting watercolor paint
Painting A Basket - A Lesson Lifting Watercolor Paint - Part 1.
Captain Watercolor demonstrates how to paint objects and their shadows
Filling The Basket - A Lesson In Painting Objects Part 2.
Captain Watercolor demonstrates a monoprint. Adding texture using plastic wrap.
Watercolor Lesson - Monoprinting - Texturing With Plastic Wrap.
Landscape shadows
Landscape Shadows. A Demonstration
How to mix all the colors from just six.
Color For Beginners - How to mix all the colors.
Example of complementary colors - How to plan the colors of a painting or anything else.
Color schemes - How to plan the colors of a painting.
Picture show contrast between warm and cool images.
How to paint emotions using warm and co
Captain Watercolor discusses abstract art.
Abstract Art - A discussion.

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