What are some tips and tricks for creating realistic shadows and highlights with watercolor?

1 Choose your light source

The first step to creating realistic shadows and highlights is to decide where your light source is coming from. This will determine the direction and intensity of your shadows and highlights, as well as the colors and values you will use. A common mistake is to use black or white paint to create shadows and highlights, but this can make your painting look flat and dull. Instead, use a complementary or analogous color to create contrast and harmony. For example, if your light source is warm, use a cool color for your shadows, and vice versa.

3 Use wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry techniques

The next step is to use different watercolor techniques to create different effects and textures for your shadows and highlights. The wet-on-wet technique involves applying wet paint to wet paper, creating soft and blended edges. This technique is ideal for creating smooth and gradual transitions between light and dark areas, or for creating atmospheric effects like mist or fog. The wet-on-dry technique involves applying wet paint to dry paper, creating hard and crisp edges. This technique is ideal for creating sharp and defined contrasts between light and dark areas, or for creating details like cracks or wrinkles.

5 Examples of watercolor shadows and highlights

To inspire you and demonstrate how to apply these tips and tricks to your own paintings, here are some examples of watercolor shadows and highlights by different illustrators. Notice how they use colors, shapes, angles, techniques, details, and layers to create realistic and expressive effects. For instance, @watercolorbyshirley uses a cool blue color for her shadows and a warm yellow color for her highlights to create contrast and harmony with her light source. She also employs wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry techniques to create soft and hard edges, while adding details like texture and reflection with a pen. Similarly, @watercolor_mood uses different shapes and angles for his shadows following the contours and curves of his objects. He also applies wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry techniques to create smooth and sharp transitions, as well as texture and pattern with a smaller brush. Finally, @watercolor_guide uses different colors and values for her shadows and highlights to create depth and realism. Additionally, she utilizes wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry techniques to form blended and defined edges, while adding texture and layering with a dry brush or sponge.