Sunrise Watercolor

Start with these reference images:
This will be a wet into wet technique. Wet the entire paper with clean water. Starting at the top of the page use blue hues and then go into yellow. Do not mix a lot or your colors will turn green. Add red and yellow to make an orange; add a little ultramarine blue, alizeran crimson and cobalt blue to the bottom of the page. Using a paper towel, dap out the sun area. Let dry.
We are going to repeat the first process again but using more pigments, and this time your paper is dry. Go back in with a thirsty brush and pick up some colors for the reflection of the sun. Again dap out the area on the sun while the pigment is still wet. Let dry.
I wanted a little more yellow in the sky area, so I again went in and glazed over the previous wash. Let dry. Show the horizon line with a darker value, softening the edge on the bottom. Paint the trees and rocks in the foreground area, making the colors warmer near the light source (the sun). Show some motion in the water by adding darker values and keeping the edges soft. Show the tree branches on top by keeping the colors warmer near the sun and cooler as they recede. Add some foliage. Let dry.

Waterfalls Watercolor

Start with these reference images:

Starting with the background and at the top of the page, use blue hues for the sky, and continue down the page into the foliage areas, using a variety of greens and yellow ochre. Start to sculpt out the shape of the waterfall, negatively. Add rock colors and while the pigments are still wet apply a piece of wax paper on top. Using a credit card scratch out some birch tree trunks in the background. Soften the edges of the rocks with clean water. Let dry.

We are not going to start the second wash with our middle values on the value scale. Start defining tree shapes, using your value study with positive and negative shapes. Leave the lights in some areas from your first wash. Put in the background evergreen trees with a lighter value to show the tree is further back in the woods. Indicate the water area. Let dry.

Our final wash will be using our dark values, putting the shadows on the trees on the bottom of the branches. Start to define the shapes in the rock forms, softening the edges as you go. Start to build up the values in the water, keeping the values on the lighter side of the value scale, with soft edges. When the waterfall hits the flat water, carry the white shapes horizontally to show it's a flat surface. Let dry.

Northern Woods Watercolor

Start with these reference images:

Start at the top of the page with blue hues, adding water as you progress down the page. Indicate the horizon line with some burnt sienna and yellow ochre. Look at your value study and leave the light values by adding water in that area. Let dry.

Now add the evergreen tree, paying attention to the negative and positive shapes that you will be creating. Use yellow and blue hues: lighter values in the background, more intense as you come forward. Anchor the tree shapes with shadows. Shadows tell the viewer if the land is flat or rough. Soften edges in the background. Let dry.

Our last wash will consist of putting in the foreground trees. The trunks of the trees are thicker at the base. Then take the side of a credit card and scratch out the light side of the tree. Add branches and twigs. Darken your foreground value to lead the viewer's eye into the picture plane.