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  • Leisure Painter

    Painting project

    Jun 17, 2022 5 minutes

    LEARNING OBJECTIVES

    ■ Use values to create a focal point

    ■ Limit your palette

    ■ Follow a step-by-step watercolour process

    Last month, I introduced this photograph of an African elephant (right) and explained how I arrived at the final compositional and tonal sketch (see Step 1 on page 24). This month, I will show you how I added the washes and detail to complete this watercolour of the elephant (below right).

    Before you begin

    Here are four hints that I hope will help you to paint this subject in watercolour.

    Working from light to dark in watercolour can make it difficult to keep track of your values. Try painting your darkest dark value on a scrap of watercolour paper before you begin so you can refer to it

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