Japanese Garden Watercolor

Start with these reference images:

Start with the background and work to the foreground. Work light values to dark values. The first wash will consist of all light values, starting with the sky and working your way down the page with local hues. After putting pigments on the page for the rock forms, take a credit card and scrape out the highlight side of the rock. Let this wash dry.

Start defining the foliage shapes using your value study, putting in the mid range values. Indicate some tree trunks and branches. Do some negative painting on the rocks, (painting behind the shape). Show a reflection in the water from the rocks. A reflection is a mirrored image of what is above it. Let this wash dry.

Using our darker values, start to accent your dark areas, as indicated on your value study. Darken the reflection shapes and while this is still wet use a piece of a credit card to indicate some horizontal lines in the water on the reflections. Ask yourself if you have a wide range of values, does your composition work? Stand back from your work and make adjustments as needed.