Step 8: Painting negative space

To add variety to my paintings, I like to paint some negative shapes.  Typically, in my tropical paintings, I do this in the dark areas.  See the photos below.  I start by painting different dark colors (values from 3 to 5), blending wet-in-wet.  After these paints are dry, I will paint my darkest color (value 2) around a shape. I will also lift some of the dark color from the area to create a shape.  I do this by brushing clear water onto a part of the leaf in the top painting, then I blot it with a tissue,  This removes some of the pigment to uncover some of the lighter green.  Sometimes an abstract shape will appear and I will leave it alone, which I feel adds even more variety to the painting.