Paint Shiny Holiday Ornaments
Watercolor Painting Lesson
Learning Points
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Reflections on shiny objects often alternate between stark lights and darks.
Usually the edges along them is hard-edged. The sharp contrast looks real on painted objects. Practice it in this lesson.
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Shiny objects have very reflective surfaces. Reflections on these objects behave predictably and are easily represented in paint.
The most recognizable feature of reflective surfaces is the alternating darks and lights.
Learn how to see and paint them in this lesson.
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Reflections follow the surface contours of the object and become abstracted - especially on rounded surfaces.
This lesson covers the few rules to know when painting shiny reflections.
What You’ll Need
BRUSHES – 1 1/2″ Flat, Medium Round, Small Round, and Cotman #3 Rigger .
PAINT COLORS – Permanent Alizarin Crimson or Permanent Rose, Aureolin Mix, Pthalo Blue, Raw Sienna
RECOMMENDED PAPER – Saunders or Arches 140lb Cold Press cut to about 6″ x 8″
Christmas ornaments may not be your thing, but they are great subjects when learning how to paint reflections and reflective objects. It seems difficult, but it’s actually easy if you follow a couple simple rules.
The key to reflections is in sharp value contrasts and hard edges. We’ll use both to get a really nice effect on a couple bright, shiny ornaments.
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Get Started
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Painting Intro
Take a quick look at the scene and the references we’ll be using to paint it - photo reference and color chart. Get an intro to the overall approach to the painting and important ideas to keep in mind as you paint.
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Paint & Brushes
Use a limited set of four colors in this painting and a set of flat brushes that encourage freedom and expression over detail and “fusiness”.
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Lets Paint!
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Step 1 : Initial Washes : Gradation On Round Ornament
Work wet and fast. The first layer is for the lightest colors. We’ll also lay in a graded wash on the round ornament.
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Step 2 : Begin Building Dark Refections
Most of the work in this step is in building the darker reflections. Pay attention to the darker shapes and the small highlights from the photo reference.
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Step 3 : Finish With Additional Darks & Highlights
At this stage it’s time to refine the painting. Most of the refinement is in the darker reflections. Remember that darks make lights look lighter by contrast.
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