“I start my process by transferring my drawing onto 156-lb. Arches cold-pressed paper,” says Carrie Waller. “I try to minimize the amount of graphite on my paper, but I will shade in some of the shadow areas to help me navigate my drawing while I’m painting. I mask around my highlights (using Incredible White Mask and a #4 round brush), then start on the right side of the paper and paint one area at a time to completion. This process allows me to establish my values from the beginning.
![](https://americanwatercolor.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/CarrieWaller-Step1_grande.jpg)
“Light bulbs are so much fun to paint because there are so many bits and pieces, and the glass distorts the bulb behind it, creating lots of fun abstractions. I use a palette of Daniel Smith paints for this painting — quinacridone gold, quinacridone burnt orange, ultramarine blue, Payne’s gray, cobalt teal blue, quinophthalone yellow, carbazole violet, pyrrol orange, undersea green, perylene red, indigo, and sepia.
![](https://americanwatercolor.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/CarrieWaller-Step2_grande.jpg)
![](https://americanwatercolor.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/CarrieWaller-Step3_grande.jpg)
“I use GE Reveal light bulbs in this setup. When saturated, they add a beautiful purple pop to the painting. This composition uses the golden ratio — the curves of the bulbs draw you around the composition, leading you to the bulb in the front.
![](https://americanwatercolor.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/CarrieWaller-Step4_grande.jpg)
“In the next step, you can see that I am getting close to completing the painting. By using a complementary color scheme, I’m creating interest and harmony. I use a wet-on-wet technique in the larger areas so that colors mingle together. I do all of my color blending on the paper by dropping in colors that I want to mix. For details, I turn to wet-on-dry techniques.
![](https://americanwatercolor.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/CarrieWaller-Step5_grande.jpg)
“I do include some lost edges in the finished piece; which add visual interest. This painting took two and a half weeks to complete. This was the second light bulb painting I completed in the series. I especially like the viewpoint of this composition, which allows to look into and through the bulbs, creating lots of interesting details. Some of the challenges I faced in this painting included making sure that all the shapes and colors lined up correctly. I really had to step back and take a look to make sure that the reflections and bulbs were lining up, since there was so much overlapping.”
In Watercolor Realism: Glass & Wood, Laurin McCracken walks you through every step of his painting process from start to finish. Expand your knowledge of tools and learn — from brushes to paper to paint — which will make the difference for your realistic paintings.
I can’t believe the detail, it just amazing. I would have gotten lost right away! Fantastic work
Hi Carrie, I love your watercolor techniques. By the way, my 4th grandmother back was a Waller! I am doing watercolor paintings and love it! I’m 76 years young!!!
What an inspiration. I am amazed at the detail. Job well done.