Paint three different apple projects. This is a beginner friendly class, including exercises, and lots of tips, all recorded in real time. It is designed so that you get multiple opportunities to practice the core techniques: wet on wet and lifting.

It’s important to complete each lesson, as the more time you put into practice the two techniques: ‘wet on wet and lifting, the better you will get at it. It’s all about feeling it in your hand, how much water to use on your brush, and how much water to use with paint. There are no shortcuts in watercolor.

Make sure you check out the Project Resource below where you can find a full, comprehensive guide that accompanies this class.

Project 1.

We are starting with something very simple. We will draw a circle, then we will wet it first. Once the circle is wet, we will begin applying the colors wet on wet. This is when I will be guiding you in detail on how to mix your colors on the paper, and to watch how the paint flows. I will share a trick, on how to make the layer dry even smoother.

Project 2

You will be painting a single apple with a leaf.

In this part, we will be practicing painting an actual apple. We will follow the steps from above, however, this time we will add a second layer. So once the first layer dries, we will re-wet the apple, and apply the colors again, wet on wet. We will be working on creating a larger contrast between light and shadows.

In this project, we will be practicing lifting colors on the apple’s stem, and the leaf. We will be painting a leaf separately, also wet on wet.

Project 3

This is the main project of the course. You will be creating the entire painting with three apples, a branch, and with an option of adding a background, also wet on wet.

What makes this lesson easier and accessible for beginners, is that we are painting each element separately. So in each part of the lesson, you will be focusing on one object at a time. Each apple and a leaf will be painted separately and the same way.

I will be also sharing my tips on how to paint a natural-looking branch using undertones. This is my secret formula that always works!

The background is optional, as some people prefer no background at all.

You will be wetting the background first, then applying the colors wet on wet.

Please share one or all of your projects with our community! You can receive valuable feedback and connect with other members. I would love to see your finished painting!

Art Materials for the entire course:

Watercolor Paper. I recommend using 100% cotton watercolor paper, Cold Pressed, 140lb. A paper that is good for layering. The papers I use the most, and recommend is Hahnemuhle the Collection, or Arches.

Watercolors - You don’t need to use the same brand of paints I use (Holbein), you can use the colors you already have.

My suggestions.
- For the apples:
  - Imidazolone yellow (or any other primary yellow)
  - Phthalo blue red shade or Cobalt blue
  - Sap green (or other basic green)
  - Quinacridone red (or another pinkish red, you can also use a primary red. Holbein’s primary red is Pyrrole red)
- If you are adding the background:
  - Vandyke brown (or Sepia)
  - Burnt sienna (or an orange-like brown)
  - Indigo (or the darkest blue you may have)
- Brushes
  - Flat 1”- 2", or size 20, or 24, a larger wash to paint a background ( I am using da Vinci's Casaneo, Flat 24 )
  - Round 8 - 12, a medium size stiffer brush, and a medium size softer brush for color blending. You can also use a quill brush, for example, size 2 ( I will be using a long quill size 2, “Songbird”, and a round brush size 8 “Golden 1” by Maria Raczynska )
  - A rigger size 2, or a liner brush to lift the colors ( I will be using a rigger size 2 brush, “Songbird” by Maria Raczynska )
  - Round 2 or 3, a smaller medium stiff brush for details and lifting ( I will be using a round 3 “Songbird-Details” by Maria Raczynska )

Other materials:

A small bath towel, to wipe your brush on (essential)
A paper towel for additional lifting, if necessary
Three small jars with clean water for the easiness of dipping a brush or cleaning your brush
A plastic palette, or if you don’t have one, a dinner plate
A good light with a daylight bulb. Preferably two lamps on your desk, plus a headlight.

Bettina Meffert

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