Week 3 of Gentle Beginnings
- May 24
- 3 min read
This week we focused on layering and texture and spent time exploring how watercolor can create depth in soft and natural ways. Rather than adding detail all at once, we practiced slowly building our paintings layer by layer.
Our first technique focus was layering. We practiced this by painting clusters of pine trees in multiple passes. For the first layer, we used a very diluted “tea” consistency of paint. This layer was light, watery, and transparent. We grouped our pine trees closely together in loose organic shapes to create the feeling of a distant forest. At this stage, we focused more on movement and overall shape than tiny details.
Once that first layer dried completely, we added a second layer of trees using a slightly thicker “milk” consistency of paint. This darker value immediately began creating more depth and separation in the landscape. In this layer, we also slowed down and used the very tip of our brush to create more defined tree shapes and finer details. By layering darker values over lighter ones, we were able to create texture, contrast, and the illusion of space within the landscape.
Our second focus this week was dry brushing, which is a technique that uses very little water to create texture across the surface of the paper. We experimented with several different ways of dry brushing.
The first method used an older brush with slightly spread bristles. We loaded the brush with pigment while keeping the brush itself fairly dry, then scrubbed and pulled upward from the bottom of the paper to create grass-like texture and movement. This technique creates beautiful broken marks that feel natural and organic.
Next, we practiced pulling dry brush texture from a small puddle of diluted paint. After placing a soft “tea” consistency puddle onto the paper, we used a fluffy brush to gently pull the pigment upward. This created soft grassy textures and subtle movement within the landscape.
Finally, we practiced dry brushing using the belly of the brush held horizontally against the paper. By lightly gliding the brush across the tooth of the watercolor paper, the paint only catches on the raised texture of the surface, creating broken and textured marks. This is especially helpful for adding interest to the foreground of landscapes, creating bark texture on trees, or suggesting shadows and texture within grassy areas.
To finish class, we brought all of these techniques together into the third layer of our landscape paintings. Watching each layer slowly build on the one before it really showed how watercolor develops depth gradually through patience, transparency, and texture.
At-Home Practice 🌲
This week, continue refining your landscape by adding layered trees, texture, and foreground interest using the techniques we practiced in class. Focus on slowly building values rather than trying to paint every detail at once.
As you practice, remember:
- Let each layer dry before adding the next
- Use lighter values first and darker values later
- Texture comes from variation, not perfection
- Sometimes the smallest brush marks create the most depth
Watercolor rewards patience, and every layer teaches you something new about the relationship between water, pigment, and paper.
For Next Week 🌼
Next week is our final class together! Please come with your landscape painting ready for final details and finishing touches. I’m so excited to complete these paintings together and celebrate everything you’ve learned throughout this course.
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