The watercolor technique light-to-dark is the process of applying colors that are light in value, such as transparent watercolors thinned with a sufficient amount of water, on the first layers of a painting.
Each layer is allowed to dry completely before the next layer is applied.
Middle value colors are applied next, followed by darker value colors.
Painting light-to-dark is the basic process for painting in watercolor. Each successive layer of darker color adds more detail to the objects in the composition defining its shape and depth.
Identifying Color Values
Hues on the color wheel are divided into light, middle and dark colors. The top section of the color wheel has light hues. The middle section of the color wheel has middle value hues. And, the bottom section of the color wheel has dark hues. As follows:
Light Value Hue
- Yellow
- Yellow-Green
- Green
- Yellow-Orange
Middle Value Hues
- Orange
- Red-Orange
- Blue-Green
- Blue
Dark Value Hues
- Blue-Purple
- Purple
- Red-Purple
- Red
See What Watercolors To Buy for a list of watercolor paint names for the hues listed above. Each hue also has colors within it that can range from light to dark. For instance, there are very light yellows and darker yellows in watercolor paints. But, yellow in general is the lightest color on the color wheel.
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