Watercolor Artists - Technique help needed!?

Question

I am painting a still life with a wine bottle (half full of red wine). How do you reflect the colors behind the clear glass in the wine glass? Which technique do you use? i.e....using the colors and then soaking it with water to dull it down, or using the background colors and then dabbing white or gray on top??

Thanks!!!!

Answer 1

Paint the area with just plain water the add the color into it with the paint brush loaded with the color so that it will flow into the wet area. If you need to tone down the color a bit do not add white or gray add a bit of the opposite color on the color wheel for red it would be green. mix it with the red to get a toned down color. You don't add a lot because it would become brown. Do you have your still life set up to paint from? That really is the best way. Observe!!!

Answer 2

I'd use a wet on wet technique. Moisten the watercolor paper with a sponge or paintbrush and then dab in the paint, letting the colors run to create the look of a reflection.

Answer 3

You don't use white or gray on top in layers.You can use white on white not used areas.You block certain places for which I sometimes use oxgall it blocks the water from coming in (with colour).Or I use pieces of tape even.
For reflections use the same colours as background colours that are the same of what they reflect.

Answer 4

when watercolour painting you shouldn't even own white or grey, you can use a masking fluid which will later be lifted off the paper and leave bright white highlights