Can you identify all the places in this painting where I used negative painting to create positive and negative shapes in the foliage? Remember we only see shapes in nature because we see their [...]

Peaceful River 8 x 12 Watercolor painting by Roland Lee

In the beginning stages I use broad loose washes to describe both the water and trees. I am preserving whites and lighter glazes which will become highlights in the finished painting.

Examine the tree area in the upper right. I have used a 2B pencil to outline a few areas where I intend to create edges with succeeding glazes of darker paint.

Using the negative painting technique I start to shape the white tree trunks and upper foliage as well as the distant spruces. Now I move to the foliage on the left of the painting and use my [...]