"Tower at Blarney Castle" Ireland - Watercolor painting lesson in using the wet-in-wet painting technique to create a dramatic sky.

On a recent trip to Ireland I enjoyed walking the grounds of the Blarney Castle and doing numerous sketches. I completed this painting back in my studio focusing on the small tower near the entrance. Cick here for purchase information. A crucial element in the painting is the fresh sky leading to the tower. this was done using a common technique in watercolor painting called "wet-in-wet" or wet-on-wet painting. After soaking the surface of the paper thoroughly with clear water, I dripped various colors into the wash letting the pigment mingle and run to give drama to the sky. It is a simple, quick, and effective way to give drama to a watercolor painting.