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home·artworks·A hint of spring in the orchard near the castle of Dubovac (Old Dutch Bister and watercolor, reed pen and brush)
A hint of spring in the orchard near the castle of Dubovac (Old Dutch Bister and watercolor, reed pen and brush) by Alfred Freddy Krupa

plate no. 5483

A hint of spring in the orchard near the castle of Dubovac (Old Dutch Bister and watercolor, reed pen and brush)

Alfred Freddy Krupa, 2022

ink, watercolorRealismlandscapetreesbuildingslandscapeskyarchitecture
suitable for beginners

This painting is great for practicing washes and creating depth using a limited palette. Students will learn to control water and pigment to achieve soft edges and subtle variations in tone.

technical profile

palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4

study guide

est. 4 hrs

approach — 8 steps

  1. step 01

    Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the trees and buildings.

  2. step 02

    Apply a very diluted wash of yellow ochre to the ground area.

  3. step 03

    Wet the sky area and drop in diluted blue watercolor, allowing it to blend naturally.

  4. step 04

    Mix a light brown (burnt sienna and a touch of blue) and paint the initial washes for the trees, varying the dilution for different values.

  5. step 05

    Add darker values to the tree trunks and branches using a more concentrated brown mixture.

  6. step 06

    Paint the buildings with a darker brown, paying attention to the shapes and shadows.

  7. step 07

    Use a fine brush or reed pen to add details to the branches and architectural elements.

  8. step 08

    Allow to dry completely and add final touches and adjustments as needed.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

secondary · raw umber

Mix burnt sienna and ultramarine blue in varying ratios to achieve different shades of brown. Dilute with water to create lighter washes.

techniques

  • ·wet-on-wet blending
  • ·dry brush
  • ·washes
  • ·layering

common pitfalls

  • →Overworking the washes, leading to muddy colors.
  • →Using too much water, causing the paint to run uncontrollably.
  • →Not allowing layers to dry completely before adding more details.
  • →Making the darks too uniform, losing the sense of depth.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

  • ·watercolor paper 140lb
  • ·watercolor paints (burnt sienna, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue)
  • ·round watercolor brushes (various sizes)
  • ·water container
  • ·palette
  • ·paper towels
  • ·pencil
  • ·eraser

optional

  • ·reed pen
  • ·masking fluid
  • ·palette knife

Use a good quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying line widths.

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related guides

watercolor techniques →how to draw →how to learn by studying the masters →
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