Welcome to Spain! What a beautiful country this is, and very different from France or Italy. Southern Spain has many small villages full of crisp white houses stacked up the hillsides. Painting these villages is not as daunting as you may think! Let’s paint one now…
WHITE BUILDINGS ARE PARTICULARLY STUNNING IN THE SUNSHINE. In the sunshine, of course, you have wonderful shadows on the buildings, which means you have a great opportunity for adding COLOR to your white painting. Yes, white is so much more than only white. This lesson is about filling your whites with color.
THE FIRST THING THAT SEEMS RATHER OBVIOUS is that the color of the sky will form the top edges of the buildings. So, begin by painting the sky and you’ll already have the buildings under way. Just don’t be wimpy with your color. Mix a lot of pigment into only a bit of water. (Here I used Ultramarine Blue). Then, when you have your mix ready, wet the entire sky until you see a shine. Pick up the rich sky mix and float it only the paper. Don’t play. Just touch it down and let it do its own thing. Let it dry.
THE WHITE OF THE BUILDINGS IS SIMPLY THE WHITE OF YOUR PAPER. You don’t paint anything that is being hit by the sunlight. There. You have a large portion of your buildings finished.
THE SHADOW KNOWS! Now you’ll need to make a plan. It’s usually easiest to lightly pencil in any cast shadows you may see. That way, when you begin to paint you can concentrate on getting the color down instead of worrying about where to put it.
That being said, let’s talk about the COLOR of shadows on a white surface. For many years, I painted all of my shadows gray. But they are so much more! There is something called ‘reflected light’ in those shadows…color that is reflected onto the white surface from objects in the vicinity. This can also be the sky – so why not use a bit of blue for some of your shadows? And why not use more than one blue? For example, you could use a bit of Ultramarine Blue and also a bit of Cobalt. From there you could go around the color wheel and stick in a bit of violet. If the area is surrounded by plants, sometimes I’ll even use a dab of green. You get the idea?
Now prepare all of the mixes you think you might want to use for your shadows. Mix little piles of each. It doesn’t matter if you end up not using them but you’ll be prepared just in case you do, because once you begin to paint the shadows you do not want to stop!
YES, VIRGINIA, THERE IS A SECRET TO PAINTING GREAT SHADOWS. – Let’s pause for a moment while you go outside to take a look around. Find a cast shadow somewhere. What do you notice? Or should I say, what do you not notice? There are absolutely no lines in a shadow. No lines. What does this mean to you as the artist painting them in watercolor? It means, dear one, that you must paint it in one attempt.
Yes, it sounds daunting, but it’s not that difficult. I’ll tell you how.
- Pencil in all of your shadows so you know where they are.
- If two shadows meet, consider them one shape. Yes, the two shadows will be painted as one so there is no line between them. Remember, we don’t want lines in our shadows.
- Get your color mixed before you begin.
- Don’t use a teeny, weeny brush. Use one big enough to carry some wash without running out right away.
- Pick up one color and begin to fill in the shadow (do not outline and fill in or that will make lines). As your brush begins to run out of this first color, pick up a bit of another and set your brush down where you left off with the previous color, continuing to fill in the shadow. TIP: always move forward, not ever going back over where you’ve already painted. That will make “blossoms”. Keep filling in the shadow(s) this same way until they’re all painted. Then let them dry completely.
See the photo just above. Note how the shadows are made up of several colors, gradually going from one color to the next. TIP: If you make a mistake, IGNORE IT and keep going. A “blossom” or water spot is okay! If you leave it alone when it happens, it will look fresh and clean and be okay. But if you play and try to fix it, the blossom will look like a mistake that you were trying to correct.
THAT’S IT – THE DIFFICULT HAS BEEN DONE!
Now simply paint in the windows, the doors, the trees and flower pots. Paint them on dry paper with colors of your choosing.
Here are a couple of other photos of paintings of the villages. I hope you enjoy.
That’s our lesson for today. We’re currently having a bit of lunch on a beautiful veranda overlooking a turquoise lake backed by hills covered with olive trees. This evening I have a surprise for the group. Ssshhhh. We’re going up to the tip top of the little town, where we’re having drinks in the ‘blue square”. I took a look-see earlier this morning and they are going to love it! Here’s a sneak peek for you (she says as she looks carefully over her shoulder for spies).
Thank you all so much for reading. I will try to write more soon.
Kathie xo
Your blog is always so entertaining – what beautiful pictures.
I love your simple way of instructing…..what stunning environments you are enjoying! Love your blogs…Thank you!
I recognize La Finca Del Nino ‘s gate! Loved that trip. Thanks for the lesson.. I have lots of unfinished sketches.
Thanks for the shadow tutorial. Enjoy your wonderful time in Spain!
You inspire us! Thanks for the pictures and the lesson! Wish I was there with you! Enjoy your trip!
Thank you for the helpful tips. I’m going to Ireland in July and can’t wait to paint white houses there. Spain looks wonderful. Marlene
Thanks for the lesson and pictures. Spain looks like a awesome inspiration. Wish I was with you. Enjoy the rest of your trip.
FABULOUS as always!!! Makes me want to paint white buildings although it would NEVER be like doing it on location in Spain!!! LOL hugs!!!
Oh Kathie! What an amazing, easy to follow lesson! You are such an excellent teacher! Thank you!
Beautiful lesson Kathie! Always fun painting with you. Wish I were there in person. Have fun, laugh, work hard, don’t eat too much gelato!
Great! Thanks for another Kathie original ….
Your trip sounds wonderful. Can’t wait to meet up with you in France. Only 9 more days!
Hi
Thank you for the great lesson. Will definitely try to find something white to pain. Your photos and commentary are the next best thing to being there. When I see your emails I can’t wait to open them – wondering what is in store for us at home.
Jo Ann
Thank you so very much for these art lessons. I will be able to apply the ideas with a white building picture that I took in California !
Hugs,
Jeanne
Awesome lesson. Looking forward to painting today. Love to read your tips and enjoy a giggle. ?
Awesome lesson. Looking forward to painting today. Love to read your tips and enjoy a giggle. Hugs, Karen
One from the phone didn’t get here until I posted the second one. So you have double the fun. lol
Such a wonderful note and lesson! I wish I was there with everyone, sharing this trip and friendship. Perhaps next time!
Thanks for the tips….love your posts!
Thank you for sharing your beautiful pictures and for the lesson. I always enjoy reading your notes.
Thanks for taking us with you and always your great way of teaching.
So inspiring!!! What a beautiful country.
Besos,
Julie
I’m enjoying Spain with you!!!?❤️?. Sylvia
Thank you for sharing this lesson with us. Can’t wait to get started!
I had a lot of trouble painting these last year, couldn’t seem to get the “white” right. Guess I will pull out my photos and try again. Thanks Kathie- your instructions lit a “white” bulb in my head.
Beautiful pictures and paintings! Brings back lots of great memories!
Love that iconic gate at La Finca.
Lovely view, lovely painting! Thanks for the lesson and the pictures.
Love the last photo. Those blue pots and flowers, just beautiful. Enjoy your stay.
Thanks so much for the lesson, I have a white building picture I took while in Charleston this spring. I now look forward to painting it. Thanks so much for your help. Hope all are having a fabulous time.
Paint me green,as with envy! Continue to have an inspring journey.
Thank you for your generosity in instruction, your blog is a breath of fresh air. One day perhaps I will travel along to paint. For now, I am enjoying your joie de vivre!
Travel blessings!
Thanks much for the inspiring lesson. Beautiful work! Bill
Thanks for sharing this tutorial. Love it!