Carrie McKenzie

Painting Rain and Figures in a Watercolour Landscape: The Red Umbrella

Your figures look just great, Margaret. 🙂

Hi Margaret - well done on completing this class. Your figure and umbrella have worked really well, I really like the light that is shing on the front of the bag and the texture on the umbrella. Also some very nice subtle shading on her coat and jeans. Let me see if I can explain the background sky more simply .....  First, pre-wet the whole of the paper apart from the main figure with clean water. Whilst wet, drop in some pale blue sky colour (consistency of milk)  all around the perimeter of the paper - let the colour spread natually towards the centre (give the paper a shake to encourage if if needed). As the colour spreads into the wet wash it will start to fade so yout get a nice gradation of colour, darker at the outer edges and lighter as it moves to the middle.  Whilst still wet, drop in some darker blue colour (slightly thicker than previous) and let that mingle into the lighter blue. Because this second paint colour is slightly thicker and the paper will be slightly drier by now, the darker blue shouldn't spread as far as the lighter blue.  Sprinkle a bit of salt into the wet wash background before it dries for a bit of texture. That should effectively create a 'vignette' effect, darker round the outside, and moving towards the lighter colour then disappearing completely into the white paper.  It is important that all this is done while the paper is still wet or you won't get the soft gradations of colour from dark to light. If you're not a fast worker, complete this background in two halves, or even quarters. Spend a bit more time thinking it through, working out what you are going to put where, and even 'air-guitar' it first with your paint brush! Then go for it!!! Hope that helps - remember, we learn more from what didn't go so well than what did best wishesCarrie

Carrie, thank you so much for helping me understand the Vignette. I will practice on extra paper. 

Hi Jennifer,  Thank you yet again for your positive feed back. I am learning to take more responsibility for my work.

Hi Judy,  thank you so much for your lovely response.  I know I really have to stop being negative about my paintings.  This one I loved doing.

Margaret your painting is great. The colours including the blue are fabulous. I agree with Judy. Own your painting, it doesn't have to be like any of the others.

Margaret, no matter how anyone else did this painting by preference or mistake, you did it in a very fine way. Your way.The umbrella is fun, and the who image reminds me of the power of a good rain to move darkness away and let some light touch. Carrie's rendition is gorgeous, but yours too is delightful to view.

This is a tutorial i followed by Carrie McKenzie.  I didn't enjoy this as much, because I messed up the blue background straight up.  I didn't understand the way Carrie painted it.  But I went on and finished it.  Thanks Carrie, another great one from you.  This one has to be done again.  I can only get better.
<img srcset="https://static.skillshare.com/uploads/discussion/tmp/911f620e.jpg 600w, https://static.skillshare.com/uploads/discussion/tmp/911f620e.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 600px, 100vw" src="https://static.skillshare.com/uploads/discussion/tmp/911f620e.jpg" loading="lazy" alt="Lady with Red Umbrella. - image 1 - student project">

Lady with Red Umbrella.

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