How I Mix My “Black” Shade in Watercolor

Video Walkthrough

May 5

This post was originally published on my old Patreon March 5th, 2018

Hello Moonbeams,

I hope you are having an absolutely fine day!

I recently had to mix up a new batch of “shadows” which I often use in place of black in my paintings so I thought I would show you how I do that and talk a bit about why I prefer not to use black. I also do a quick little painting with the freshly mixed paint which you can watch in real time while listening to me carry on for awhile. I may or may not have had some caffeine that day so be warned of incessant rambling!

I hope you enjoy! <3

Mediums and Materials

Daniel Smith: Burgundy Yellow Ochre

Daniel Smith: Prussian Blue

Daniel Smith: Carbazole Violet

Daniel Smith Tourmaline Black (side note, this paint has a strange consistency as seen when I swatch it in the video. Could just be this one tube though. It feels like it has been mixed with too much gum arabic.

Koi White “Watercolour” (gouache)

Black Swan and Princeton synthetic hair paintbrushes in a couple of small sizes ranging from 3/4 to 1

Pentel Aquash Waterbrush in size small.

Stonehenge Aqua Hotpress 140lb watercolour paper.