A. Gallo Colors ad: Italian Crafted Watercolors

Summer is almost over, and I’m already looking forward to all the autumn motifs I have in my head. 😍 But first, one last summer painting. 🌾 ⸻ Sketchbook by @etchr_lab Watercolor by @agallocolors If you’re curious about the other supplies I use, I put together a free e-book with all my favorites. Comment “GUIDE” and I’ll send you the link! ⸻ Step-by-step guide: 1️⃣ Wet the paper Wet the whole paper, wait a minute, then wet it again. This makes sure the paper is thoroughly soaked and gives you more time to work while it’s wet. 2️⃣ Paint the sky and field In the upper third, paint a loose blue sky with diagonal strokes. Don’t overthink it, just go for it. Leave some white gaps to create a soft, cloudy feel. For the lower two thirds, start with a warm yellow (e.g. Quinacridone Gold), then add a sandy color (e.g. Raw Sienna), and finish with a touch of orange-brown (e.g. Burnt Sienna) for that warm glow. 3️⃣ Tap in the background wheat While the paper is still wet, loosely tap in some wheat heads with a sandy color. Let them bleed and blur into the wet paper. This softness is what makes them look like they’re further away. Add a few darker brown strokes near the bottom for more depth. ✨ Let it dry 4️⃣ Paint the foreground wheat Loosely tap in the wheat head shapes with your brush. Don’t overthink their shape, a little variation makes them look more natural. Vary the colors slightly between the wheat heads and add the stems. 5️⃣ Add shadows & deepen the stems Add a darker brown to one side of some of the wheat heads to create depth and dimension. Then darken a few of the stems here and there for more contrast. 6️⃣ Add the fine details Using a very fine brush, add delicate strokes to both sides of the wheat heads, focusing mainly on the ones you want to stand out. Keep it selective, you don’t need them everywhere. 7️⃣ Finish with white highlights Using an opaque white (I used Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White), add a few fine white strokes to the wheat heads and some subtle highlights on the stems. Happy painting!