Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
If you’d like to see this process from start to finish, my full watercolor ice skates lesson is available in my Patreon shop for just $10, and it’s also up on Skillshare!
The lesson includes the complete narrated painting process, plus a downloadable outline sketch and reference photos, so you can paint right along with me.
✨ Find it in my Patreon shop here: patreon.com/posts/watercolor-still-117977377?source=storefront
✨ Find it on Skillshare here: https://skl.sh/4iOrWUq
Perfect if you want to practice painting white objects with confidence and really understand how values and edges work together.
White paint isn’t even necessary in watercolor.
So how do we paint white objects or animals without them looking flat or dull?
It all comes down to planning, values, and restraint.
Before you paint a single wash, take time to plan and protect your highlights. In watercolor, your brightest whites are simply untouched paper. Once paint goes down, there’s no true way back to that original brightness, so saving those areas from the start is key.
Next, work from light to dark. I always begin lighter than I think I need to and build my values slowly, layer by layer, letting each wash dry in between. Rushing into darks too early is one of the fastest ways to end up with heavy, flat results.
Then, observe your values carefully. White subjects are never just one flat white. Look closely and you’ll see soft grays, mid-tones, deeper accents, and sometimes even subtle color shifts depending on the surface. These value changes are what create depth and realism.
Finally, use a mix of soft and sharp edges. I love starting wet-on-wet for gentle shadows and smooth transitions, then switching to wet-on-dry for darker areas and crisp details.
Slow down, observe closely, and let the paper do the work. 🤍
Save this for later, and let me know if painting white has ever felt tricky for you.
#watercolorforbeginners #howtowatercolor
If you’d like to see this process from start to finish, my full watercolor ice skates lesson is available in my Patreon shop for just $10, and it’s also up on Skillshare!
The lesson includes the complete narrated painting process, plus a downloadable outline sketch and reference photos, so you can paint right along with me.
✨ Find it in my Patreon shop here: patreon.com/posts/watercolor-still-117977377?source=storefront
✨ Find it on Skillshare here: https://skl.sh/4iOrWUq
Perfect if you want to practice painting white objects with confidence and really understand how values and edges work together.
White paint isn’t even necessary in watercolor.
So how do we paint white objects or animals without them looking flat or dull?
It all comes down to planning, values, and restraint.
Before you paint a single wash, take time to plan and protect your highlights. In watercolor, your brightest whites are simply untouched paper. Once paint goes down, there’s no true way back to that original brightness, so saving those areas from the start is key.
Next, work from light to dark. I always begin lighter than I think I need to and build my values slowly, layer by layer, letting each wash dry in between. Rushing into darks too early is one of the fastest ways to end up with heavy, flat results.
Then, observe your values carefully. White subjects are never just one flat white. Look closely and you’ll see soft grays, mid-tones, deeper accents, and sometimes even subtle color shifts depending on the surface. These value changes are what create depth and realism.
Finally, use a mix of soft and sharp edges. I love starting wet-on-wet for gentle shadows and smooth transitions, then switching to wet-on-dry for darker areas and crisp details.
Slow down, observe closely, and let the paper do the work. 🤍
Save this for later, and let me know if painting white has ever felt tricky for you.
#watercolorforbeginners #howtowatercolor
