PRACTISE PAINTING DARK AGAINST LIGHT, LIGHT AGAINST DARK

Sketch this café scene, or use a similar photo of your own. The figures are lit from one side and display a lit and a shaded side, against a backdrop of mid, light and dark tones. Aim for a convincing pattern of light and shade through contrast between lighter and darker tones. Colours used: Schmincke ultramarine finest, burnt sienna, yellow ochre, permanent rose, Indian yellow.

STAGE ONE

Sketch the scene. Dilute ultramarine blue to a pale tint and map out the shaded sides/ portions of the figures

STAGE TWO

Wash in the background shaded area with a mid-tone mix of yellow ochre and ultramarine, strong enough to bring out the high-lit sides of the figures but not so dark that it will conflict with the darker shaded sides. Mix a darker tone of ultramarine and the burnt sienna to paint the doors and windows

STAGE THREE

French Café, watercolour, 10314in (25.5335.5cm). Paint the shaded sides of the figures one at a time, setting a darker shade against the mid-tone background or a stronger hue against the light background. Leave the highlights as untouched white paper for contrast and be prepared to darken an area adjacent to enhance the light/dark contrast. Tint the light areas of the skin with a pale flesh tint at the end

We’d love to see your paintings! Email a photograph of your painting to dawn@tapc.co.uk with ‘Hazel Soan 2’ in the subject line by June 29 and we’ll share it on our PaintersOnline website: https://bit.ly/2QNiXtI