Day 21 – Staining Pigments

Commit or Be Committed

Technique level: Basic
Duration: ~30-40 minutes

Objective:
Learn how to work with staining pigments, not against them. Stainers like Phthalo Blue or Alizarin Crimson sink fast and don’t lift easily – but they offer richness, luminosity, and great layering potential if handled right. Today you’ll paint a piece of fruit that requires saturated color and form, not fiddly corrections.

Materials:

• Watercolor paper (cold press or hot press)
• Staining pigments (pick 1–2):
  • Phthalo Blue (GS) – for blueberries
  • Quinacridone Rose or Alizarin Crimson – for cherries
  • Phthalo Green, Hansa Yellow, Anthraquinone Red – also useful if mixing
• Round brushes (size 4-6 and a detail brush)
• Pencil, paper towel, and mixing palette

Steps:

1. Sketch the Fruit:
   Choose a simple cluster – one or two blueberries or cherries. Lightly sketch the form, noting highlight areas and where shadows fall. Leave highlights unpainted – don’t plan to lift them later!
2. Base Wash – First Commit:
   Mix a very diluted version of your chosen pigment. Paint a smooth base wash over the fruit, leaving the highlight area as pure paper white.
   Work quickly and evenly – staining pigments don’t wait around.
3. Layering Up:
   Once dry, apply a second, deeper wash to define roundness. Add color toward the shadow side, letting it gradate toward the highlight.
   Let layers dry between glazes. If you mess up and try to lift? Don’t. Just add another layer and deepen the form.
4. Edge Control & Bloom Watch:
   Staining pigments love to bloom when they hit damp paper. If you want that, lean into it; if not, let layers dry completely before continuing.
   For blueberries: mix a violet-y grey from Phthalo Blue + Rose and use it for the dusty bloom or stem end.
   For cherries: add a final crimson glaze to deepen the glow.
5. Details & Reflected Light:
   Use a tiny brush and near-full-pigment mix to add the blossom end, stem base, or crisp edges. Consider reflected light – a cool shadow edge can make a warm fruit feel rounder.

Focus:

• Accept the no-undo nature of stainers – paint mindfully, not fearfully.
• Use glazing and restraint – don’t scrub.
• Highlights = preserved from the start. No backpedaling!

Bonus Prompt:
Try painting a blueberry with both a staining pigment (Phthalo Blue) and a more lifting pigment (like Cobalt Blue). Compare the vibrancy and handling side-by-side.