Line and Wash Essentials: Coastal Landscape Sketching

Hi, I'm Darren Yeo, Watercolour Artist from Melbourne VIC, and welcome to Line and Wash Essentials: Coastal Landscape Sketching.

In this course, you'll learn about essential pen drawing and watercolour techniques in order to create a beautiful line and wash painting. In addition to theory and practical exercises, there are also 17 included projects that we will complete together. I'll walk you through in real-time, the techniques I'm using such as wet-in-wet and wet-in-dry. I'll also show you how to simplify and sketch any scene in pen.

This course is aimed at beginners and intermediate painters. There are scans, drawing, and tracing templates included for each project to help you transfer your drawing over quickly and easily.

In this course, I narrate my demonstrations in real-time. I explain every technique I use in the context of the painting, such as layering into wet areas to paint shadows of a tree or building. I'll be going over the essentials of layering wet-in-wet and wet in dry watercolour. I'll talk about what materials you'll need, and which ones I use and recommend. If you have some brushes, a pen, watercolor paints, and paper, then you're set to go.

So join me in this course - let's create some beautiful line and wash paintings that you can be proud of!

In this course, I will cover basics such as:

• How to use various watercolour techniques such as wet-in-dry, wet-in-wet, pulling out paint, lifting, splatter, and dry-brush in different contexts.
• Understanding water control and mixing in watercolour painting
• How to use different brushes in different circumstances
• How to use perspective to create depth and plan your scene according to a vantage point of your choosing
• How to Draw and compose your painting - as well as separate theoretical and technical lessons, each project includes a planning component where you will learn how to sketch a basic blueprint for your painting. I will show you how to place the horizon line, and how to quickly and accurately sketch in the reference photo. I will also talk about how I use my sketch to plan out the steps of my watercolor painting afterwards
• How to use complementary colours to create vibrancy and interest in your watercolour paintings
• How to paint skies, mountains, water, trees, shadows, buildings and figures in a soft and loose manner, using a combination of wet-in-wet and wet-in-dry techniques. I'll talk about how and when to wet your watercolor paper to obtain particular results such as the appearance of soft clouds, and when to paint in more rigid and accurate shapes once the paper has dried
• The importance of timing in watercolors

Scans, reference photos and tracing templates are included under the '41 - Resources' section.

Course Assignment:

Your course project is to sketch and paint a coastal landscape! This can be a scene featured in one of the course demonstration videos or based on one of your own photographs or scenes you've observed outside.

You can also refer to the scanned drawing/painting templates attached below which will allow you to trace the drawings if you choose to do so. I recommend drawing each scene free hand. Drawing is an important step in improving your painting skills. This provides you with an opportunity to compose and plan your painting. Once you've finished the drawing, use the watercolor steps and processes included in the course demonstrations to complete your painting. Finally, upload your project.

Materials:

Use any normal or mechanical pencil or permanent ink pen/liner, watercolour paper, and brushes you have available. I recommend:

• Mechanical pencil (0.5mm)
• Set of pigment liners or ink pens (permanent)
• 100% cotton watercolour paper or sketchbook
• Watercolour Brushes - mop brush and a variety of round and flat brushes.

Getting Started:

Review the course demonstrations on watercolour theory, techniques, and drawing first. There are 17 different demonstrations that you can draw and paint from. You can also download the tracing templates to transfer over your drawing. Remember to watch the video on 'Materials Required' to help you obtain similar results and effects. Always use the best materials you can afford.

As an additional challenge, research some free reference photo websites and find a reference photo you would like to paint. Using the steps and processes included in this course, create your own unique watercolour line and wash sketch.

Sharing Your Work:

Once you've finished, share your final painting and progress shots with the course by uploading them to our official group www.facebook.com/groups/watercolourmentor. I'll provide you with constructive feedback on your painting if you ask. If you have any questions or need more tips, please let me know. I'm happy to help.