In this calm, classical still life, we'll paint a small pumpkin glowing in natural light. I’ll guide you through a simple subject that teaches big lessons, how shape and value create convincing form, how subtle warm and cool shifts bring life to oranges, and how the white of the paper can sparkle as highlights. You will see how gentle glazing builds depth without heaviness, how edges move from crisp to soft, and how a cast shadow grounds the object and completes the story.

What you’ll learn

Seeing in clear shapes and mapping values for solid form
Using warm to cool temperature shifts to animate colour
Building depth with light glazes while keeping freshness
Controlling edges for focus and atmosphere
Designing a quiet background so the light can breathe
Placing an elegant cast shadow to anchor the composition
Adding selective texture and detail around the stem
Understanding rhythm and balance through repeated curves
Applying these ideas to fruit, ceramics, florals, and other single-object studies

Our aim is a luminous pumpkin that feels solid yet fresh. Think in clear shapes, let gentle layers reveal the ribs, and allow tiny temperature shifts to suggest texture. Keep the background calm, let the cast shadow stay simple and elegant, and stop before you overwork. Notice the repeated curves of the segments creating a subtle rhythm, the stem acting as a directional line that guides the eye into the form and through the shadow, and the lively yet stable asymmetrical balance of the whole composition.

Bring a relaxed confidence with colour and value, make economical marks, and enjoy the quiet satisfaction of a still life that glows.

Thank you so much for your interest in this class!

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Free Watercolour Guide + Studio Notes

Want more watercolour tips, painting ideas and occasional notes from my studio? Join Studio Notes and I’ll send you my free guide, The 10 Most Common Watercolour Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them).

Get the Free Guide + Join Studio Notes

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Try this class to explore your creativity...

I’ve been painting for many years now, taken part in many exhibitions around the world and won awards from well respected organisations. As well as having my work feature in art magazines. After having success selling my originals and 1000s of prints around the world, I decided to start traveling with my brushes and paintings. My style is modern and attempts to grasp the essence of what I’m painting whilst allowing freedom and expression to come through. I simplify complicated subjects into easier shapes that encourages playfulness.

You'll Learn:

What materials and equipment to need to painting along
Basic technique to complete your first painting
How to avoid common mistakes
Choosing the right colours for your painting
How to blend colours and create textures for different effects
Making corrections and improvements
Finishing touches that make a big difference

When enrolled, I’ll include my complete ‘Watercolour Mixing Charts’. These are a huge aid for beginners and experts alike. They show what every colour on the palette looks like when mixed with each other. Indispensable when it comes to choosing which colour to mix.

Don’t forget to follow me on Skillshare. Click the “follow” button and you’ll be the first to know as soon as I launch a new course or have a big announcement to share with my students.

Additional Resources:

Here are the art supplies I recommend
Follow me on Instagram
Check out my website

Music by Audionautix.com

Libby McDaniel

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