Modern Watercolor: Create Depth Through Progressive Layering

Progressive watercoloring is a technique that involves the layering of translucent pigment to create a gradient effect that adds depth and style to your work. In this class, designer and illustrator Melissa Lee will take you step-by-step through the simple and easy process, so that you, too, can implement the technique into your next painting.

Progressive watercoloring is a fairly traditional technique, in that it really utilizes the translucent quality of watercolors, but it can also be used to give your work a contemporary, stylized flair. 

To get into the spirit of the season, Melissa will be showing you how she created the Halloween-themed painting below. This lesson is short and sweet, and you’ll leave it with one more fun technique to add to your skillset!

Hands-on Class Project

Create your own Halloween-themed painting using the progressive layering technique.

MATERIALS

• Artist Grade Watercolors 
• Sennelier Half Pan Travel Set of 14
• Dr. Ph. Martin's Radiant Concentrated Watercolors - Individual & Sets
• Uni Pin Technical Fineliner Pens
• Three or Four Round Brushes of Different Sizes (I use sizes 0/0, 2, 6, and 10)
• Brush Cleaner 
• Masking Fluid 
• A Cheap Brush or Color Shaper for Masking
• Watercolor Paper (I like using Canson Watercolor Blocks)
• Masking Tape
• Palette or Plate for Mixing Paints
• Colour Shaper (Taper Point Size 2)

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Figure and Gesture Drawing: Tools for Self-Educating Artists - line-of-action.com