How to Paint Dark Backgrounds with Watercolors

[@BrynnCarrollARTIST]

Tip: Make sure when using masking fluid to never heat it with a blow dryer while trying to dry your watercolor in between washes. It will score the paper when you try and remove maskoid and can ruin the watercolor.

[@lynnettebass2451]

That is gorgeous!!

[@BrynnCarrollARTIST]

Thank you! I hope it helps in some way as I will be posting more soon!

[@OnlineCollegeofArtandDesign]

beautiful!

[@loreleilombard1392]

You have a really great teaching style

[@BrynnCarrollARTIST]

Very appreciative Lorelei!

[@pjc1954]

Very helpful - thanks.

[@BrynnCarrollARTIST]

Thank you!

[@dowunda]

Very good technique, especially withe the Bokeh effect! Nice! It's like Pop Art imitating the lens effect on a watercolor.

[@BrynnCarrollARTIST]

Thank you!

[@This.is.it307]

Great technique for that camera lense effect

[@BrynnCarrollARTIST]

Thank you!

[@marykosary8862]

Loved it, very helpful..thanks from Venice, Florida. Mary K.

[@BrynnCarrollARTIST]

Thanks Mary! Glad the tip video was of some help!

[@1toshi32]

Did you use more than 3 layers on this background? I watched you painting and you can still see the brush strokes where at the end of your tutorial it looks matt. I'm trying to get this exact same background for an owl I'm painting and having trouble getting a matt background without the brush strokes being still visible.

[@BrynnCarrollARTIST]

No! I only used 2 layers. You must let them completely dry between layers. I waited a long time but that part of the video was cut out. 4 hours Make sure you are using the exact same combination of colors. Those colors together give a very nice and deep background color I use all the time that is matte with no sign of the paper coming through. It also depends on the consistancy, thick or thinner than mine shown, in how you applied the paint.

[@1toshi32]

@@BrynnCarrollARTIST Thank you. That makes a lot of sense. I am impatient and probably didn't let it dry properly. I will test it out before I try to do the background on my owl. Loved the video.

[@BrynnCarrollARTIST]

@@1toshi32 If you need to, add an additional 3rd layer. I hope that helped? Unfortunately, you have to let layers dry completely. Or, you can speed the process up by using a blow dryer on low heat. Test your color mix on a scratch piece of watercolor paper for consistency. Add the first layer then use your blow dryer to dry. Then let the paper rest. I will often times put a large piece of tracing paper over the painting after I dried the first layer and then add weight to the painting like stacked books. This does 2 things! It keeps the paper flat and it allows it to rest. Then add the second layer the same way. Because I live in the desert where we have no humidity and 117 degree days, watercolors dry out so fast I can barely keep the paper wet. Your environment, paper choice and consistency of paint make all the difference in the outcome! Happy painting!

[@1toshi32]

@@BrynnCarrollARTIST Hey thank you for that valuable information. I will definitely use that bit of information about using the paper on top of the dry painting to keep it flat. I have actually tried your method about letting it dry out completely on another painting I did a while ago where the background was very similar. It worked a treat but I didn't stack any books on top of it. I am in the process of completing the picture now and hoping it will turn out well.

[@BrynnCarrollARTIST]

That's great news! Hot press paper has some particulars you have to pay attention to. If you work the paper too much, it will scribe it slightly roughing up that surface layer and then it can make for a real mess. Some people, new to hot press paper, have a tendency to work it like they would a cold press paper (a little rougher and push into the paper a bit too much) and will harm the paper causing all kinds of issues. Working on 300lb hp paper is all I will work on now. I found stacking books helps in 2 ways. One, if you are using a lower weight hp paper the weight of books helps smooth out all the warping of the paper and also helps with allowing a layer to rest and smooth out if you have to re-wet it again which many times I have to for glazing affects to build color. Glad you made it work and I could be of help!

[@kathywilden7702]

I would love to see the flower being painted as well

[@BrynnCarrollARTIST]

Thank you Kathy! :-) You will able to in the full length tutorial that takes you step-by-step how to paint this white flower in its entirety. It will be available at my Online Watercolor Classes here: www.brynncarroll.com/watercolor-classes-1

[@starloney4184]

Why dont you say or write the paint color you use?

[@BrynnCarrollARTIST]

All of that information, including what colors I use, an outline drawing with reference photo along with a Step by Step guide is offered in my online watercolor courses that are on my website and will be going live soon!