Artist - Barbara Simmons

Tip of the month – October 2005
After observing the shadows, the time comes to make a decision. What colors will the shadows be? Will they be a flat color or a wet-in-wet mix? In all of these paintings, notice that there is more than one shadow color used in each of the watercolors.

LES POIRES Each pear has a different combination of wet into wet colors.	SUMMER’S END The shadows on the petals range from orange to rust; the shadows on the leaves range from blue on green to violet/blue on green.
CALLA LILIES The shadows on the white are blue/violet. On the inside of the white bloom deep yellow and green are used for the shaded areas.	CANNA There are a variety of shadow colors on this flower; warm on cool and cool on warm.
In each of these paintings, I considered the color temperature of the form. I use COOL shadows on a warm form and WARM shadows on a cool form. When I say cool on warm, I am saying that the shadow is cooler than the warm form. When I say warm on cool, I am saying that the shadow is warmer than the cool form.
cool shadow on warm	warm shadow on cool
As you saw in the September Tip, one shadow crossing several colors will change hue depending upon the color that it sits on. Try making the shadow in cobalt blue. Paint all the individual colors over the dry cobalt blue. Cobalt blue shadow glazed with colors.
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