How to Paint Intense Shadow Colors in Watercolor

Shadows are just darker, deeper tones of a subject's main color due to less light, but sometimes that color can be a challenge to paint convincingly especially when its an intense hue. In this video, we'll touch on some tips for painting convincing shadow color.
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[@RCKYBOO2024]

You're lessons are like potatoes chips. "Just one more and I'll clean house. Just one more and I'll get dressed. Just one more....." Two hours later... "Where did the time go and I'm still not dressed! BUT I know how to make my color wheel, paint shadows, make a good wash. All the rest of my life? Not important anymore." Oh just one more. 😂🤩😍

[@kathykolenda7517]

S Mitchell i agree, last night I was 3 hours late going to bed. Woke up exhausted 😂😜

[@urbanbeachbum2148]

5:30am at the gym.... 6:25am back home......... 8:50am still in gym clothes....

[@sushmithahh]

Please visit my channel if you like watercolor... do subscribe if u interested... otherwise leave it....,, 😊😊😊😊😊😊🙏🙏

[@lritz1]

So true, but also.. thanks a lot.. now I want potato chips.... lol

[@adammarcos6582]

Instablaster

[@roxanneazul]

I have been painting for years, frustrated with this concept because my university took an extreme "you will learn by doing approach" and I often tried to use compliments to try to shadow. Oh my goodness this tutorial has given me so much insight to my issues over the years. Thank you!!!

[@mindofwatercolor]

Complements can work if color intensity is not needed.

[@geraldobrien7323]

Yeah, I was also taught that the right way to do shadows is to use complimentary colors. It just turns everything muddy.

[@oliodesign]

@@geraldobrien7323 the reaspn of this is luminosity of lighting increasing than luminocity of shadows. (form shaping). But I'm also confusing. Maybe it could be effect like a complementary colors one to one for brightning of painting not mixing. Watercolor has a lot nuanses.

[@artwilwarin7483]

The worst part of starting anything without a teacher is that we don't even know what we don't know. 🤣🤣 I was confused as to why my paintings looked so ugly but thankfully I discovered your tutorials. These are really helpful for clueless beginners like me.

[@lritz1]

“I don’t know what I don’t know” I use that phrase all the time! I love seeing someone else use it as well!

[@patriciar9010]

This is excellent advice for flower painting! I learned (a long time ago) to add a complementary color for shadows, but I have never been happy with those results when painting, flower petals. Thank you for doing this most helpful video!

[@danzobee]

I've been extremely vexed with highlights and shadows in watercolor, and this is the only video I've found so far that's broken it down in a useful way. Thank you!!

[@pilasumana4410]

I learned about analogous colors, which I didn't "know" they are somewhere......specially for creating shadows. You can tell I am in the process of learning! Thanks for your excellent turorial, pls do not stop your generous help for us, the watercolor wannabees!

[@kameliakalinova6909]

I am learning soooooooo much from you! Thank you for breaking down every aspect of watercolour in such a clear and engaging way! You are an amazing teacher!

[@jmoss55ish]

One of my absolute favorite verses! On difficult days, I make it into a song as I go about trying to accomplish things the best that I can😊

[@SharonNolfi]

Thank you, Steve! Your method of using analogous colors to create shadows is new to me and superior to what I learned in a watercolor class. I was taught to use complementary colors, which make darker tones, but also mute the original hues.

[@mindofwatercolor]

+Sharon Nolfi yes, the complimentary colors work ok if maintaining intensity isn’t necessary. Thanks!

[@joyceyip1701]

Thank you Steve for this intense shadow watercolour tutorial. It’s a great lesson especially using analogous colour instead of blue for shadow. 👍🏻

[@pamelahubbell-gl7gr]

Wow!!! This was an awesome lesson….You are a beautifully creative artist at the same time being able to visually explain watercolor techniques…

[@music4me831]

Your intros and fun is all part of the message u have always stood for and by. -let water teach u- have fun learning and never become so engrossed in shouldas couldas that u forget the fun and love for the art. While i could fill a book with what u have painstakingly taught, its the humor and joy for the art that pushed me thru those days nothing works. Never lose this

[@mindofwatercolor]

+Lori Shioji ok, thank you!

[@halibut1249]

Those are great little shading studies. They really show off how the color behaves from light to dark and you can judge if you're using a suitable adjacent color, or a warm/cool bias color, or neutral tint, to darken at the core shadow or terminator. THANK YOU!!

[@kosakim]

I cannot thank you enough for this video! This is the first explanation of how to do colour shadows that has made sense to me. Just had a huge light bulb moment. Thank you again!

[@condorreades2148]

A follow up to my post of about an hour ago. I did this exercise with a set of Sennelier watercolors I hadn’t really used much. What a great way to find the properties of the paints and to explore color mixing with them as well as some glazing. Totally loved the results. Great exercise.

[@TrueLoveX1027]

Hi Steve, haven't been by in awhile, but was struggling to get correct shadows on delicate pink flowers. You paint with pink or any color long enough and you feel like you are losing perspective on what color you are really seeing. Well, back to the shadow issue. Just couldn't figure it out. Tried D.S.'s Jane's Grey, but that wasn't right, but knew at least it was completely liftable. So, I searched for "choosing shadow colors" on KZbin and there's one of my consistent favorite artists tackling the subject, "you!" Made great sense and of course using the analagous color to Quin Pink, Quin Violet and blammo, there's my shadow color. Thanks for always being such a great source of info. God's blessings to you and your family during this continued and difficult time with Corona Virus. I pray that you and all you love are well. Xx

[@MDCampbell]

I can see a whole series on this topic, ranging from monochromatic shadowing, complementary shades, tertiary shades, and even Payne's or Neutral Tint effects (tho you covered a bit here). This was perfect for a beginner and anyone coming online to search for this topic will be thoroughly glad they found you! Cheers, my friend! :)

[@mindofwatercolor]

Thanks Mark, yes, agreed! I've already had someone ask about complementary shades saying thats how they were taught tp do shadows. So I need to at least touch on that. Complements work fine in many cases but not so much when you need that shadow to exude color intensity and vibrancy.

[@kellywilson2147]

The Mind of Watercolor Hi, Steve! I know it's not the same concept as you're teaching us here, but can you explain cast shadows, please? In my area of expertise, Tole painting, cast shadows is a topic that wasn't, needed(?), or discussed. I am really hooked on watercolor and I will master this medium, so there is no looking back! I am a subscriber and have watched most of your videos at least a half a dozen times and you have taught me so much that I hate bother you with this. Are shadows and cast shadows the same thing or different? Does one override the other? The professional artists I've asked haven't answered back, so I'm beginning to think it's a stupid question! I've Googled cast shadows, but everything I've read fails to explains exactly what they are or their relation to shadow. Am I making this too hard? Perhaps looking for something that isn't there? I just want to thank you so very much for making The Mind Of Watercolor such a comfortable place to learn! Your art is just gorgeous! I love your sense of humor, Reese, your spirit, and most of all, your faith! I'm so proud to be a Minder! Still waiting on those t-shirts! And some stickers because I love your logo. Novella complete... -Kelly

[@kellywilson2147]

Oh, yes, I would definitely tune in for those videos! Same goes for you, M.D. Campbell, love your style!

[@MDCampbell]

Super nice of you to say, Kelly R. Wilson! Thank you so much! Cheers!

[@hansendesigns]

M.D. Campbell def i agree w the complementary for shadows.

[@maryanharrell5642]

Thanks, Steve. I loved this video. I learned so much about shadows that I didn 't know before. A lot of the way I paint is by eye, like a musician plays by ear, so having more real knowledge helps me sooooo much!! You are the best!

[@sushmithahh]

Please visit my channel if you like watercolor... do subscribe if u interested... otherwise leave it....,, 😊😊😊😊😊😊🙏🙏

[@debs_7163]

The first video on this topic I found really helpful. Thank you, Sir!

[@mardilousmith]

Just starting out with watercolor. Thanks for the info. You make it look easy and then I try (operative word is try) to replicate. I have some very strange looking "things" on my paper. But, interesting trials for someone with very little patience. THANK YOU !!!

[@cassiehoogendoorn9664]

I am a beginner watercolor-color ist and an trying to learn roses. The variants in color of petals due to shadows is giving me fits. Thank you for your clear, concise easy to listen to explanations. I'm back at it with a much clearer vision today. Thanks for sharing your tremendous talent!

[@deetje1049]

Thank you! As a beginner, i learned a lot from this video!

[@donnamiller5936]

Thanks Steve!! I learned a lot by watching the demo ! Now the fun comes in the practice!!! Thanks for the verse you chose too. You brought back a great memories of my Chosen Father. He was a Carpenter by trade, and had this verse on his bussiness card. Have a great day!

[@Ms1lonewolf]

Hi Steve, I'm watching this video for the first time on shadows and you have given some good knowledge on the subject. I'm a beginner painter and trying to learn as much as I can while I learn to use watercolors. Thank you. Janie

[@RockyRoadCreationsbyDiana]

Thank you for this lesson on shadowing. It's very helpful.

[@6cherubs]

Why would anyone give this video a thumbs down? Thank for sharing your talent and time to help others. I truly appreciate you.

[@joemenzaart]

Could be because the video is more about shading and making something look like it has dimension and not like casted shadows? People can be mean though.

[@wanttolearnreidy4469]

Thanks Steve, most interesting. You certainly know your water colour and how to apply it. I liked the fact that you emphasised keeping the "colour intensity", not muddying it during the shadow process. Cheers Lorraine.

[@mindofwatercolor]

Thanks Lorraine!

[@janemerves7682]

Best tutorial I’ve seen for shadow colors!

[@Roslyngal]

Terrific info, plenty in there for intermediate painters too. I know it's good when I find myself scribbling lots of notes! Especially useful: going back in with original colour glaze after shadows, also graduating the shadows with two different pigments (a mid and then deeper one). Looking forward to a vid on cast shadows soon! Bravo.

[@fdabill1]

This is such VALUABLE information!! I’m new & learning sooo much. Learning answers to questions I didn’t even know I had. Thank you 😊

[@robincooper9323]

Thank you from this beginner!!! It makes sense the way you explained it.

[@liliawebb9377]

I hadn't tried analogous colors for shading - great lesson! Thank you.

[@sushmithahh]

Please visit my channel if you like watercolor... do subscribe if u interested... otherwise leave it....,, 😊😊😊😊😊😊🙏🙏

[@kathrynholden4223]

Thank you, thank you! Really answered a lot of my questions/frustrations as a beginner.

[@janwhite4243]

I have big problems with shading. This helped me watching you, Steve. Thanks!

[@donnacarraway9182]

This is great and also a great reminder that revisiting your videos is a great idea!

[@brendanstevenson5848]

Thank you so much!!! I've always struggled with shadows

[@paintingtheskykingdom9005]

Thank you! I was trying to paint a yellow butterfly and could not get a good shadow on the butterfly itself and googled 'creating yellow shadows in watercolor' and got your tutorial which is perfect help for this. Next I need to determine how to make a shadow of the yellow butterfly onto pale skin tone.

[@elflordsjourneys]

Thanks for another great tutorial steve,even after painting for years I'm still leary about mixing colors for fear of creating mud.Even though I try to incorporate the direction of light my paintings lack shadows.

[@paulj666]

Thanks Steve, great video. I especially liked how you showed using the color wheel.That's a really good tip.

[@ezequielruiz2488]

Thank you so much for this information. I had problems with greish shadows because I used paynt grey in my drawings. This is very helpfull. 🙂

[@delila351]

GREAT---I needed this one. I am always second guessing shadows.

[@thindsatnam]

I am beginner in painting.I am glad i got perfect knowledge about how to use colors,shades shadows,glazing colors mixing opposite colors.All that means lot while i am painting hope you put more videos regarding color mixing....Thanks

[@yannigotchi]

Thank you so much! Your videos are awesome. I'm a beginner and your videos help me so much.

[@danaedwardsart726]

steeeeeeeeeeeve you are awesome and your tutorials are awesome and your videos are awesome!!

[@gloriawachel917]

so much to learn - fabulous

[@sallyyotz3995]

I am a beginner watercolorist. This video has been most helpful!! Thanks Steve :)

[@pate8250]

Thanks Steve for that summary. Very helpful.

[@pathayes6084]

Thank you for this demonstration. It makes so much sense and is giving me something to think about when approaching my painting.

[@pattycyr8662]

Thanks - very helpful - excellent video!

[@luvthisscrap]

My first thought for the red was to add blue, but I think this is more interesting and does seem to maintain the integrity of the red you started with. Good to know, thanks Steve!

[@barbaramilbradt2188]

Awesome, learned plenty here!!

[@mela1404]

Thank you!! To the point, best demo around!!!

[@JosieLewisArt]

Great explanation and very clear, thank you!

[@susannelearyshoemaker9213]

Wow! This is great. Thank you.

[@JDLandscapePainter]

I'm always fascinated by the quality content of your videos. Thank you so much for your dedication to teaching!

[@gms9810]

Payne's grey is my favorite color, it's all over in nature.

[@kathywilden7702]

Thanks Steve. This was very useful information. I did struggle with deciding what to use for shadows.

[@kristimaki8433]

This was so helpful! It makes so much sense once you see it done! Thank You!

[@redsunset7856]

This was such a helpful video lesson!! You are an awesome instructor.

[@wulfseig1864]

This has helped me sooooooo much! I can see this working in other mediums as well. Thanks for mentioning neutral tint because I was on the fence about buying. Again, Thanks Steve, for another helpful video. You are awesome.

[@ItsTammy]

No Reese in the intro! I missed him! 😂. I struggled with shadows and shading for a long time but then I studied complimentary colours and started mixing my complimentary colours and using complimentary underpaintings. I really enjoyed this video cause it taught me something new! Thanks for posting!

[@helensowards2225]

Great ,very clear and can understand your teaching ,thank you

[@gracegrace4116]

You are an excellent teacher, thank you very much.

[@azzuparis]

Thanks Steve, this video is really helpful. I always struggle with the shadow color and now I know what to do. Thank you!

[@susanhepburn6040]

Really helpful - thank you!

[@kimberlyhibbert710]

Very helpful! Thanks!

[@karonsky1]

You’re an awesome teacher!! I love your vids and learned a lot from this one. Great explanation about analogous colors!!thank you 😉🇨🇦

[@maureengarcia5478]

Two thumbs up for this demo! You've given a really good process for determining how to paint shadows.

[@ThePaulahoo1]

Well done!! I'm a beginner so I really got a lot out of this tutorial! Thank you!!

[@mariusvaiciulis5072]

Thanks! Was trying to darken using complementary colors, yet not really sucessfully. Now I'm rethinking all of that. Though, having a limited palette i guess, i'll be facing same challege. Going to experiment, and think all of that through.

[@lvmylord54]

Thanks again Steve. Shadows are rough for me sometimes.

[@Bassmanwcm]

This was so excellent Steve...So valuable...Thank you again for ALL that you do...

[@leighanderson2251]

Thank you. Very clear instruction. It has been of tremendous help. 😀

[@marygraham4545]

There is a term for using a monochrome color to paint the entire picture first in one color to intensify the shadows. I think it starts with a "g". I can't find it again on KZbin and was wondering if you had a clue. Love watching your videos. I am a beginner in watercolor. Have painted extensively in oils, but watercolors have become my new passion. Thank you also for your scripture at the end of each lesson! It lifts my heart!

[@mindofwatercolor]

Grisaille (pronounced griz-i). It's traditionally referring to a "gray" underpainting or underdrawing.

[@marygraham4545]

@@mindofwatercolor Yes! Thank you so much!

[@condorreades2148]

Incredibly helpful. Thank you. About to do a whole series of spheres to experiment and learn for myself. Shadows in watercolor are not the same as acrylic or casein.

[@cherigreen4471]

I really love your teaching style, you are so informative! Thank you for these wonderful videos!

[@oc_villain3833]

NO , THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO TO MAKE US BETTER PAINTER'S,. .

[@dianedreyfus]

Most excellent glazing lesson. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@cocoapey]

Love your videos, very helpful for a beginner like me, the Bible passages at the end are a bonus too! God bless you ! :D

[@sushmithahh]

Please visit my channel if you like watercolor... do subscribe if u interested... otherwise leave it....,, 😊😊😊😊😊😊🙏🙏

[@lorrieg4498]

Very helpful, although after the fact, as I attempted shadows on quince fruit (very pale yellow). I was going in the right direction, though my technique and application could have been more refined. Will do better next time with the pointers in this video.

[@elsagrace3893]

Yaaas, Steve, that was so helpful. At the moment I am finding drawing flowers more difficult than drawing people but I think it's just a case of not having a complete 3D map of flowers form built in my mind. Lots of mental construction yet to do. Practicing drawing flowers from the back side as well as front side. 😓💦whew!

[@elaynegreaves9511]

This is a lesson in SHADING! Big difference between SHADING and shadows.!

[@mindofwatercolor]

A shaded side of anything is also shadow by definition. Cast shadows are not the only type shadows.

[@pennybordelon707]

Wonderful wonderful wonderful tutorial thank you very much! I am very new to ART. And water colors are so beautiful. By the way I have purchased most of my supplies from you LOL. Thank you again you’re awesome.

[@watercolorartist646]

This is so helpful, I have seen so many different ideas on shadowing, thanks this was great!

[@ellenschmidt3005]

Great video, Steve. Very helpful!

[@LeaGalTan]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Very helpful.

[@kriskrumanaker4315]

Nice lesson--thank you!

[@th-hannibal]

Good learning. I will try this exercise.

[@kriscarlson9540]

Great video....very informative! As always , you explain in a way that makes a challenging issue very understandable! Thanks!

[@jillkent6134]

Very helpful I have ruined so many flowers by trying to paint shadows I will try it out 😊

[@silvana9371]

Love your videos! Thank you so much! They are helping me a lot in the beginning of my watercolor journey :). Best regards from Costa Rica. Please, keep making videos.

[@Lilymarie0815]

THANK YOU for keeping in mind beginners! I am a beginner beginner, and hoping to learn more from you! I am so glad I found your channel!!

[@mindofwatercolor]

Welcome. I'm not strictly a begginer's channel but I do try to include lots of tips in every video so don't shy away from the videos that seem more advanced.

[@Lilymarie0815]

@@mindofwatercolor Thank you! Yes, I do understand that! Will do my best and continue learning from your videos :) !

[@Beginnerarttutorials]

Brilliant!

[@melindastroup1844]

Thank you! I had been wondering how to do that.

[@shelbywillock6086]

Very helpful! Thanks for the lesson.

[@kashivishwanath7603]

Thanks Steve. Great information.

[@Bine1701]

Thank you so much from Germany ❤️

[@reneelogan2947]

thank you for sharing this valuable information....well done.

[@quilter1958]

I love your videos. Thank you.

[@margaretohara7872]

Very useful tip...thank you!