WATERCOLOUR PAINTING BASICS |
YANNY PETTERS
WATERCOLOUR PAINTING BASICS
Course Summary
This course, led by botanical artist Yanni Petters, focuses on the fundamental skill of creating a vast colour range using only a limited palette of three primary colours: Lemon Yellow, Cadmium Red, and Ultramarine Blue.
You will learn to mix a complete spectrum through two primary methods. The first is layering, building up translucent glazes to create complex hues and deep, luminous colours. The second is wet-on-wet application, which allows for soft, organic blends directly on the paper.
The session provides essential techniques for controlling your medium, including how to manage the consistency of your paint and water to achieve everything from pale tints to saturated colours. This exercise is a practical foundation in colour theory and watercolour technique, designed to build your confidence and intentionality.
By the end, you will have created a personal colour reference and gained the skills to mix nuanced, vibrant colours for any subject, all from a minimal and strategic palette.
Course Preview
Course FAQ
-
Core Colour Theory: How to mix a complete colour spectrum using only a limited palette of three primary colours: Lemon Yellow, Cadmium Red, and Ultramarine Blue.
Fundamental Watercolor Techniques:
Layering (Glazing): Building complex, luminous colors and deep tones by applying translucent glazes, allowing each layer to dry completely.
Wet-on-Wet Application: Creating soft, organic blends and dynamic color transitions by mixing pigments directly on damp paper.
Paint & Water Control: How to master the paint-to-water consistency to achieve a full range of values, from the palest tints to highly saturated colors.
Practical Application & Observation: A foundational method for creating nuanced, vibrant greens and earthy browns that are more lively than their tube-made equivalents.
How to create a personal colour chart for future reference, understanding how colours shift from wet to dry.
-
Paints:
Lemon Yellow
Cadmium Red
Ultramarine Blue
Brushes:
A watercolour brush, such as a size 12 nylon brush.
Painting Surface:
Watercolour paper.
Palette & Mixing:
A palette or small dishes (like mixing bowls) for holding and mixing paint.
Two containers of water (one for cleaning, one for clean pigment).
Clean-Up & Control:
Tissues or paper towels for blotting brushes and controlling moisture.
-
Suitable for all levels.
-
The course is composed of one video, a total of 42 mins. Enjoy the benefit of being able to watch and follow along at your leisure for the duration of your access.
