Warm blue cool blue
Posted: March 5, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized 23 CommentsIf you live in Montreal, you’ll probably agree that the light outside is pretty spectacular today. Clear and bright on the fresh snow (unless you are downtown where it’s probably all slush by now) and some great wispy clouds in the sky. When I parked at the golf course my first thought was that wanted to capture the contrast between the warm blue of the sky and the cool blue of the snow shadows. I regret not taking some step-by-step photos of this sketch but I was on my way to school and didn’t have much time. The order of the steps went something like this:
1. Wet the sky with clear water and gently brush in some blue (mostly Cerulean) to create those soft clouds, being careful not to muck around in the sky too much.
2. Mix up a big puddle of the cooler blue (Ultramarine, a bit of Cerulean, and the tiniest dab of Alizarin) and paint in the big snow shapes
3. Wait for the snow to dry and add in the dark rocks
4. Create the row of trees along the rock edge, varying the colour of the wash as you go and thinking about the edges of that shape (hard where trees meet snow and softer and more varied in the sky.)
5. Final steps: a second wash of sharper darks in the (now dry) trees and rocks, and a dab of yellow and red on the little buildings.
Shari Blaukopf's Sketchbook 
The sequence of steps was helpful. Thanks for posting.
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Glad it was helpful Fred. Thanks for letting me know.
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Looks great> How long did it take overall, and how big was the painting? Always enjoy your blog and style.
Stan in NY
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Hi Stan in NY. It took about 1 hour and it is in an 8″ square sketchbook but painted over two pages, so overall it’s 16″ x 8″.
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Beautiful painting. You certainly did capture the bright light on the snow and the reflected light in the shadows. Stunningly concise! Your step by step makes my appreciation of it even greater. It’s a very inviting composition.
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Thanks so much Jeff. I am actually in the planning stages of an online course, so the step-by-step helps me think through the process.
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Beautiful.
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Thanks so much Chris.
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Like it a lot. But easier said then done.
Appreciate the step-by-step muchly.
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Thanks Janice. I’m glad the step-by-step is useful. It helps me too.
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Love your today’s sketch, how you drew such sharp cold light, I can almost smell the air. And thank you for little tutorial, awesome. Awesome, how you can get big shapes, tonal values and so truthful watercolor. 😀
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Thanks very much Nikira. I’m glad you like the tutorial.
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Thank you so much, Shari, for the step-by-step! I learned something new today and got to enjoy your beautiful sketch.
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I’m so glad it was useful Susan.
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Excellent watercolor….
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Thanks Mark.
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Hi Shari,
I love this painting!
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Thanks very much Fiona!
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Beautiful rendering of the snow!
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Thanks very much. I love to paint snow…
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Hi Shari — This would be a really nice painting to put beside my other one on the wall -))) I love it!
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I was thinking of you when I was there Jane. It’s a spot that nicest in winter.
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Your winter scenes are beautiful. Love the step by step method.
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