MAX SHERSHNEV
WATERCOLOUR RENDERING

Max continues his tutorial here, slowly building up the contrast in the image, as well as applying a background.  The tutorial finishes with some simple highlighting using gouache.  For those of you who don't have any gouache, you may also find that tip ex (correction fluid) can be a good substitute, especially as it also comes in pen format, making it very easy to apply!

 

Remembering to wait until each application of paint is dry, you can now begin to add the colour to the bodywork. Here I have applied a light blue tone to virtually all surfaces except those facing upwards. Remember that all horizontal or down facing surfaces (or indeed any facing away from your light source) will be colder in tone.

I have also applied this blue tone to the far side of the windscreen, again to help with the impression this surface is reflecting the sky. Once you have completed the blue tones you can then begin to tone down the areas which are most in shadow.

Using a deep colour I have now shaded the area that picks up the reflection of the background (on the bonnet and the roof). This immediately has the effect of making the car feel more shiny.

The drawing is now entering its final stages. I have shaded the background colour, and completed all the shadows. At this stage you generally go by feel, touching up areas until you are ready for the final highlighting stage.

For final highlighting I have used a white gouache (for its opaque quality) and picked out some spots where the sun is being directly reflected back to the viewer. It is easy to go overboard at this stage. Generally the effect works best if you stick to just a few key highlights. The sketch rendering is now complete, and you are ready to move on and try other design solutions and ideas.