Day 4 in my creative countdown to Christmas. Last month when I was painting in watercolor everyday, following the World Watercolor Group’s November prompts, I focused on adding shadows. I tried to not always use black. Instead I mixed the compliment of the color with the color of the object. As the month went along the “darks” were always on my mind while painting.

One of the things I admire about Charlie of doodlewash and founder of World Watercolor Group, are his highlights. So many of his objects look so shiny. I asked him for advice on achieving this. He said,

“it’s all about pushing the contrast. I sketch every little shape I see in the reflections and then paint them, pushing the darks as much as possible to make the whites seem whiter. Any chance to put nearly black next to white also increases the contrast. With glass you have to be a little subtler or it will start to look like metal, but if you’re painting metal…just go for it! The more contrast the better! And many of the shapes are not intuitive…draw exactly what you see, not what you’d expect it to be.”

I think it is really good advice, but putting into practice with my ornament was easier said than done! The ornament was reflecting everything in the room. But I’ll be thinking about the darks and the lights as I work this month.

Jill wrote a poem about how special ornaments are. I totally agree. As I unwrap each ornament I remember who it is from or what special interest or time in our lives for me, my husband, or one of the kids it represents, or a family trip we took.

Marion’s scandinavian felted ornaments are so precious. The stitching is drawn so well, the ornaments look real!

On Instagram moxiefitblues posted a beautiful box of ornaments. See them here.

Here’s my prompt list is you’d like to draw/paint along. Tag your posts  #adventmcr.