I got interested in painting specifically in watercolor last year. I did not really plan to go traditional because, in digital, you can do watercolor painting with the provided brushes. Technology is now so advanced that it can copy the texture of a real painting. Digital is great but still, I want to do it in a traditional way. The feeling of touching the canvas and brushes is very different compared to a screen.

In my spare time, I try to squeeze in watercolor painting. It is my stress reliever. The whole process is just satisfying and therapeutic.

Last Saturday, @jude.villarta and I had a painting tutorial over the @hiveph Discord. This tutorial was long overdue because we cannot find a common free time. And, yeah, it was just a drawing not until Saturday. ( No pun intended)

The virtual tutorial started at 9:00 AM. Some of our buddies attended too the painting tutorial. It was fun gossiping while painting haha! @eunoia101 @dennnmarc @lhes @sensiblecast @xanreo

Screenshot from Discord

Materials:

Watercolor paper 300 GSM
Watercolor
Brushes
Tissue paper
water
washi tape (optional)

I recycled the Nutella jar as my brush holder. UWU

Most of my watercolor painting materials are from the brand Seamiart. I ordered mine online. Check their shop here.

Tracing the subject

I used a pencil Mongol #2 to copy the subject. I just drew it lightly so that it will not be visible when painted. I am not good at drawing perfect circles which is why it is a struggle for me to copy the grapes. The symmetry of the bowl also is not that good. Maybe I not used to traditional anymore. In digital, there are guides and stabilizerr option to make lines and curves perfectly.

Outline

I just copied what Jude was doing.

Jude's photo
Jude's tracing. Ahh~ perfect circles!

Start painting!

This is where we start to identify the light and shadows, basically shading. As the subject is closer with the light source, the color should be lighter to achieve that 3D feel in the painting. The important points here are the highlight and shadows.

Tips!

1. The closer the subject to each other the more shading (concentrated).
2. the farther the subject to each other the more blurry (diffused).
3. volume proximity = shadows.

Ahh, I really messed up with those grapes. I try to erase it using kitchen paper because the texture is more rough compared to other tissues. It was a mess at this point. I go off mic to vent my frustration, haha!

Look how I messed up those grapes! THE GRAPES! UGH. I am so pissed with the grapes at this point. Again, those circles are freaking struggle. My mind is constantly thinking of what if Control Z should be in real life too? But, yeah, too late because I had already drawn it.

I tried to fix it here and there to make it closer to the reference. Ahh~ took me almost two hours to fix this painting. I really look up to Jude of how easy for her to paint. I wish I have those hands. I bet she can paint while sleeping, hahaha!

Conclusion:

The virtual tutorial ended at 11:00 AM.

This is how it turned out mine -

And this is Jude's.

See the difference between a pro and a newbie. Jude is such a great artist. Some of her works are displayed in well-known art galleries in the Philippines. No wonder she made this so smooth ans easy. She was so very patient with me in teaching painting step by step. I never heard her complain about me being so slow in the process.

Super duper thank you, sissy! I ❤️ you!

I and my buddies learned a lot about watercolor painting. I am happy that Hive PH Discord is also a platform where you can share your talents!

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That is it for this article. I will see you at the next one!

📸 All photos are owned and taken by me, otherwise credited. ©️jijisaurart