2025 Workshop 2
Underpainting in Watercolor
Discover how to create beautiful undertones using an underpainting technique in watercolor. This method helps establish shadows and provides a foundation that enhances the overall color harmony of your painting. You will learn what underpainting is, how to choose the right underpainting color, which areas of the painting to apply it to, and how to incorporate this technique into your own artwork effectively.
Lesson 1: What is Underpainting
Underpainting in watercolor involves applying a light layer of paint to establish the basic tones, values, and/or mood of a painting. It also can serve as a way to establish values. We’ll paint a tree with an underpainting on the right side and no underpainting on the left so we can compare halves.
Lesson 2: Monochromatic vs Complementary Underpainting
We’ll explore how to pick your color for underpainting as we compare two pepper paintings. There is no “wrong” color, there are just different options we’ll explore that can change the final look of your piece.
Lesson 3: Warm vs Cool Underpainting
Starting with a warm or cool underpainting will dramatically change the overall mood of your piece. Neither is right or wrong, but it is helpful to understand the differences to give you confidence in achieving your desired outcome. We’ll compare two oranges completed with a warm vs cool underpainting.
Lesson 4: Underpainting vs No Underpainting
We’re going to paint the same landscape scene twice: one with an underpainting and one without so you can really see the difference in the end. We’ll add multiple layers in landscape one as we create underpaintings, and we’ll paint landscape two more traditionally working from light to dark.
Workshop 2 Supply List
Paper:
Paint:
Daler-Rowney Aquafine Watercolor Travel Set, 12 colors
Brushes:
Pencil:
Lyra Rembrandt Art Design Graphite, 2B
Other Supplies
- Paper Towel
- Water Cup
- Painters Tape
- Optional: Light table to trace or you can use a window
