How to Paint Vases Casting Colorful Shadows in Watercolor

Step-by-Step Guide

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   Step 1: at home or at the thrift shop

    Clear colored plastic can work well for this project, too.
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   Step 2: transparent colored glass vases

    Fill them with water tinted with food coloring. ,  Place it in either landscape or portrait orientation.  Just plan to place the vases high enough in your composition to allow for space to show the cast shadows. ,  Watercolors in either tubes or pans work fine.  Add an assortment of all purpose or watercolor brushes, water, a pencil, eraser, masking fluid/frisket, lined composition paper, scissors and tissues.  Place all supplies on the side of your dominant hand to avoid dripping on your painting as you work. ,  Use a few glass vases or jars in varying colors and shapes. ,,  Try various light sources; strong day light coming from behind, light from a lamp placed on one side, or use "artistic license" and make up a dramatic light source by using your imagination. ,  They will most likely be found at the object's edges.  These darks and lights will define the shape of your objects. ,  Things behind might be distorted.,  Be careful to keep each side of the vases even and having the exact curvature.  Make perfect agreement your goal and make refinements as needed. ,  Fold a piece of lined, school paper in half lengthwise and draw one side of the vase.  Cut through both layers to create a template of each vase or jar. ,  Try various compositions. ,  Remove the templates and refine your drawing.  Add thickness at the bottom and mouths of the jars, finish the ellipses at top and bottom, too.  If there are swirls or decorations on the vases, draw that, as well. , This rubber medium will reserve the white highlights on the edges of the objects.
   
   Allow it to dry thoroughly. , Paint a transparent, sheer wash of color over each vase.
   
   Let the brush skip over the vase to create some lively white shapes on the vase.
   
   Let this first layer dry thoroughly.
   
   Use a hair dryer if you wish. , Mix a darker value of each color and paint the dark highlights.
   
   Each pure white highlight must be accented with a very dark highlight.
   
   Let your strokes skip and be broken to avoid outlining., Use a ruler and have the line go right through the vases.
   
   This will help with the illusion of transparency.,, Dark gray or even black is a great way to show off the colored vases. , Mix the same color you used for the vase and touch a brush loaded with that color to the bottom edge of the vase.
   
   Run a splashy expanse of plain, clean water in the foreground and allow the wet paint to fill the wet area without helping it.
   
   Keep each shadow separate by drying it before attempting to do another.
   
   If they overlap slightly as you paint them, they will remain separate, clear shapes if done on dry paper, next to a dry painted area.
   
   Dry the piece thoroughly., Stand up the piece and step away from it to view it with a critical eye., Follow that with a swiggle of plain water to create a light shadow., Remove the masking fluid with a piece of honeycomb, rubber carpet backing, a rubber cement lifter, or your finger., Try this project again.
   
   Possibilities are endless and after your first attempt your confidence will grow and it will show in the painting.
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   Step 3: jars and drinking glasses of various shapes.

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   Step 4: Use drinking glasses from the cupboard at home if you wish.

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   Step 5: Select a piece of 11 x 14 inch

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   Step 6: 140# watercolor paper.

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   Step 7: Gather other supplies.

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   Step 8: Arrange a simple still life.

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   Step 9: Observe closely to see the effect light will have on your subject.

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    Step 10: Play with how various lighting will effect your subject.

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    Step 11: Look a hard to see where the most vivid highlights are occurring on each vase.

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    Step 12: Notice that in the middle of the vase

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    Step 13: you will see through the glass.

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    Step 14: Draw your layout.

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    Step 15: Simplify things

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    Step 16: if you wish

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    Step 17: by making templates of the vases.

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    Step 18: Move the templates around on your paper.

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    Step 19: Draw around each template in pencil.

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    Step 20: Use a small brush loaded with masking fluid.

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    Step 21: Designate body color of the vases.

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    Step 22: Do a second layer.

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    Step 23: Draw the table's edge.

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    Step 24: Use the darker color to work on the mouths

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    Step 25: swirls

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    Step 26: or other details of the vases.

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    Step 27: Paint the background

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    Step 28: above the table's edge.

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    Step 29: Do the cast shadows.

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    Step 30: Check to see if you need to add anything.

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    Step 31: Put a line of dark gray to "ground" each vase.

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    Step 32: Unmask the vases.

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    Step 33: Enjoy your work.

Detailed Guide

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