How to paint jellyfish in watercolours

Embark on a mesmerizing journey into the world of watercolor painting as you learn to draw and paint captivating jellyfish. This class will immerse you in a realm of artistic expression, teaching you essential drawing skills, fluid mask application, wet-on-wet wash techniques, and the intricate art of painting jellyfish in exquisite detail.

Throughout the course, you will delve into the following aspects:

1. Drawing the jellyfish: Master the art of capturing the graceful form of a jellyfish using a pencil. This initial step serves as a crucial guide for the entire process, from applying fluid mask to painting the water and bringing the jellyfish to life.
2. Applying masking fluid: Discover the significance of masking fluid, a rubber glue-like substance used to cover specific areas of the paper. This layer preserves the surface and creates distinct boundaries between the background and the elements within your artwork. Learn how to moisten your brush, glide it over a soap bar, and form a protective layer to ensure optimal results. Remember to rinse your brush with warm water immediately after use, and allow the masking fluid to fully dry before applying watercolors.
3. First washes with the wet-on-wet technique: Explore the wet-on-wet technique, a fluid approach that involves working in one session or re-moistening the paper for multiple days. Discover how to create a base color swiftly, allowing for beautiful transitions of blue hues in your painting.
4. Working on details with wet-on-dry technique: Delve into the art of glazing with the wet-on-dry technique, which deepens colors and adds dimension to your artwork. Learn to wait for each layer to dry completely before applying the next one, ensuring precision in lighting and volume nuances, and enhancing the realistic quality of your masterpiece.

By the end of the class, you will have crafted a breathtaking seascape, complete with a stunning jellyfish as the focal point. We encourage you to share your artwork with both the instructor and the community, celebrating your progress and unique artistic expression.

Throughout the instructional videos, remember to follow along and create your own masterpiece. For the drawing stage, equip yourself with a pencil of B or HB hardness and a kneadable art eraser. Strive to avoid leaving strong lines, as water and watercolors act as fixatives, making it challenging to erase lines once you begin painting.

In the realm of watercolors, embrace the colors you have available, even if you don't possess a complete set of 36 pans. Experimentation is encouraged as you follow the demonstrated techniques.

The step-by-step process will guide you through each stage:

1. Begin by drawing the jellyfish and its elegant tentacles.
2. Apply the masking fluid to preserve the white spaces on the paper, paying particular attention to the delicate tentacles that may blend into the background.
3. Wet your work and swiftly create the base color, exploiting the quickness to achieve beautiful transitions of blue.
4. Once the work has dried, intensify the colors to compensate for the wet-on-wet technique's tendency to lighten when dry.
5. Remove the fluid mask and focus on bringing the jellyfish to life. As a translucent creature, jellyfish absorb colors from their surroundings and are influenced by light. Apply different warm and cool colors to capture their unique appearance.
6. Lastly, refine the details to captivate the viewer's attention. Details play a vital role in the overall impact of your artwork. Consider using a jelly pen Sakura or tempera to add bubbles or additional embellishments.

Embrace each step, enjoy the creative process, and may your journey in watercolor painting be filled with inspiration and success. Good luck!