What Is a Monochromatic Study?
Monochromatic refers to a color scheme made up of one color in a variety of values and tones. For example, if you add white to red, you get a variety of pinks; if you add black to red, you get darker versions of red. In watercolor, we usually don’t use white or black when painting — instead, we dilute one color with water, which creates a range of values of that same color. You can also add a neutral tint to a color to create a range from vibrant to a very muddy brown; that’s also considered a monotone study, since it’s still one color broken down into many tones.
Doing Less to Accomplish More…
So why study monochromatic painting? Sometimes you need to do less to accomplish more — that’s part of what my break from YouTube has been about for me. It’s been learning to take a step back, cherish the little things, and not get so sucked into the rush of life.
I’ve also been taking some time to understand why I fell in love with watercolor in the first place.
That’s why it feels fitting to talk about monochromatic studies this week. Basically, by removing color from the equation, you really have to break down your overall concept and approach to painting — so here’s what I learned by doing my own study.
1. You Have to Stretch Your Paper…
Personally, I’ve found that the monochromatic paintings that speak to me most are the ones that fill an entire page — which means stretching your paper first, so you’re painting on a smooth, “un-warpable” surface.
Click here to learn how to stretch your watercolor paper
2. You Have to Choose a Good Overall Concept and Composition…
This means choosing an illustration that can hold a wide range of lights to darks, so a composition with a strong light source is key — that’s what leads to the dramatic lighting that makes an illustration pop off the page.
Also, as mentioned earlier, choose a drawing that fills the entire page — these kinds of compositions lend themselves well to monochromatic studies and almost seem to pop off the page at you.
3. Study Your Paints’ Strengths and Weaknesses…
First — you want a paint with a wide range of lights and darks, which usually means something more opaque. These types of paints let you go from very dark to nearly transparent.
Next — remember watercolor is built on glazing, or layering. Some colors layer really well, whereas others don’t, so it’s best to test a color before you commit to it.
Third — test how your color works with water. Some colors sink into the page while others sit on top and move, which matters depending on whether you want a loose, wet look or a more controlled one.
Finally — choose a color that works well with your composition. I chose a warm gray tone for this study, to feel inviting and slightly cozy to the viewer, but keep in mind that some colors read as cooler and more serious, while others feel more inviting — so choosing your color wisely matters too!
Click here to learn about my favorite paint colors and paint brands
And that’s it for this post! Talk to you soon, and keep painting!
