In The Studio: Opaque Watercolor “Rockport Glimmer”

With opaque watercolor like oils you start with the darks shapes, work through the middle values, adjust the colors, in the darks and the middle values, and then use the whites, or lights to clarify the shapes, add focus, and time of day or type of atmosphere.  I like this approach to these paintings.  One thing I will say at this moment, is that you should use less water than you are used to with transparent watercolor, let the colors hold their own as a value statement and work towards a thick rich application of lights.  Too much water dilution and the colors become murky.