Painting Colorful Shadows: Bringing the Everyday to Life with Brienne M Brown, NWS
Instructor: Brienne M Brown, NWS www.briennembrown.comDate and Time: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday, November 12–14, 2027 9:30am-4pm each day, with time for a lunch breakLocation: RIWS Classroom
Workshop Description: Shadows can transform an ordinary scene into an extraordinary painting! Yet painting convincing, colorful shadows in watercolor can be challenging. Understanding the shapes, values, and colors of shadows is the key to creating stronger, more dynamic paintings.
In this three-day workshop, Brienne will share her approach to observing, simplifying, and painting shadows with confidence. Drawing from her experience painting from life, she will demonstrate how shadows can describe the contours of a landscape, define the form of objects, and create a convincing sense of light and depth.
On the first day, students will focus on recognizing shadow shapes and understanding value relationships, using simple value studies to build a strong foundation. The second day will explore the colorful side of shadows, learning how to use a limited palette and thoughtful color mixing to create beautiful, luminous shadows. On the final day, students will bring these concepts together, applying their understanding of shape, value, and color to create more expressive watercolor paintings.
Throughout the workshop, Brienne will share demonstrations, practical exercises, and useful painting tips to help students develop greater confidence in watercolor. A selection of reference photos will be provided, allowing students to choose subjects that interest them while practicing the concepts taught.
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