This is your July 2026 newsletter, coming to you a couple of days early!
A week ago, I spent a lovely summer day at San Jose’s last family-owned farm, teaching a beginner-friendly watercolor class where we painted summer peaches. To do this, we diverged from the usual light-to-dark approach and started with shadows.
Why a shadow-first approach?
Especially with a subject like this, where the form shadow is subtle, I find it helps to lay the shadows down first in a complement to my main color. This way, the shadow glows through softly and my next layers are simple passes of color. And, I can always come back and add that extra oomph at the end, if required.
STEP 1: Make a line drawing in pen.
Tip: Use a thicker line on the shadow side, and break up the line where you want it to be more subtle.
STEP 2: Mix red and blue for purples and paint form and cast shadows. Let the purple dry completely before the next step.
Tip: Let your strokes follow the form of the fruit.
STEP 3: Glaze with yellow. Let the yellow dry completely before the next step.
Tip: Keep your paint vibrant but transparent and don’t scrub into the bottom layer.
STEP 4: Now, glaze on a thin layer of red and orange, leaving some areas of yellow untouched. Add dry brush details in the same colors. Glaze the leaf with a layer of green, varying the color across the leaf.
Mixed Media Details: Using white gouache, add in some dry-brushing and stippling to capture color variation on the peach, and peach fuzz. And, you are done!
Tip: You can add these details with colored pencil, gel pens, or any other mixed media.
If you would like to give this a try, here is the reference image I worked from. Let me know how it turns out!
Dates: Multiple dates, Jan 2027
This link has all the details you need. Don’t wait too long to sign up!
Gateway to India Workshop(s), 2027
Dates: Sunday, 21-28 May 2027
Use the code EARLYBIRD at checkout to save $150 on the workshop!
Join me in partnership with French Escapade in Spain, in May 2027, for this week-long workshop. You are promised a wonderful organizing team, spectacular locations and food, the camaraderie of like-minded artists, and a week filled with learning to sketch and paint places and people in vibrant color!
Read a detailed itinerary and sign up here:
https://frenchescapade.com/2027-calendar/spain-suhita-shirodkar/
That workshop in Istanbul you asked for?
It’s opening up for registration next month, watch this space!
Our next online sketching session for paid subscribers is on Friday July 24th and we will draw a plaza full of people. Details for the session and reference images will be sent out during the first week of July.
Join us by upgrading your membership at the link below. (You can join live or will receive a recorded video of the session.)
No posts
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.