Water drops
by Sharon Wolf
Drops can be added to anything you paint, and the
rules are similar to those for painting glass - paint
everything behind first, then you will get a
transparent effect.
Assume we are painting a green leaf. Finish
painting the leaf then draw the shape of your water
drop. I usually use a white chalk pencil as the
strong marks can be removed with my finger.
,
Step 1
Apply a thin (with water) wash of white to the whole
area of the drip. You must make sure this is
transparent. Allow to dry
Step 2 and 3
Use a brush suitable for the size of your drop ( I
like to use angle shader brushes for this) to float
another fairly thin wash on one side, inside the
drop. Allow to dry.
Float on another stroke on the other side. Don’t
cover the whole thing. Continue with the other
small floated areas. I like to use Jo Sonja’s Glazing
Medium, as it doesn’t take ages to dry like ordinary
retarder.
Use a dry mop brush to soften any hard areas if the
paint hasn’t faded away sufficiently. Remember,
your highlights are getting smaller as they get
brighter in the area of your previous float.
Step 4
I like to add shadow inside the water drop, as well
as outside, in the small areas that have not been
highlighted. Again use small, thinned floats, The
shadows will be the same, or a slightly darker value
of the green of your leaf. If you were working on a
rose petal, for instance, you would shade with red. Your shadow will always be a bit darker than
the colour you are painting over.
As for floating highlights, the darker the shadows get, so they will be smaller than the previous
stroke.
When you are happy with your highlights and shading add a strong, un-blended highlight - like a
comma stroke - and a few dots to add sparkle. Make the comma stroke follow the shape of your
drip.
Happy dripping!
Sharon.