HOW TO – Watercolor Starts to a Landscape

After working out a few thumbnails or value studies, we have a better feel of the subject and see the simple shape patterns that we can create in either wet in wets or controlled glazes. Our value study helps us consider design, the movement and direction to encourage the wash to flow in, as well as how rich the mixture of water and pigment should be.
We can create every subtle value and color out of a limited palette consisting of each of the primaries. Getting the dark values takes work but pays off, since we achieve far more harmony and unity throughout the painting.