plate no. 7360

A summer house

Thomas Pollock Anshutz, 1900

oilImpressionismlandscapehousetreeslandscapefoliagebuildingsummer

some experience helpful

This painting will help students develop skills in loose watercolor washes and creating depth through layering. It's a good exercise in capturing light and shadow with a limited palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes: house, shed, and tree masses.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow ochre over the entire paper as a base tone.
step 03
Begin layering in the sky and background trees with diluted greens and blues, allowing colors to blend.
step 04
Paint the house and shed with light washes of browns and grays, defining the structure.
step 05
Add darker values to the trees and foliage to create depth and shadow.
step 06
Use dry brush techniques to add texture to the foliage and ground.
step 07
Define the details of the house and shed, such as the roof lines and posts.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

secondary · sap green · raw umber · alizarin crimson

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Create browns by mixing burnt sienna and ultramarine blue. Vary the intensity of colors by adjusting the water-to-pigment ratio.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·dry brush texture
·layering washes
·color mixing
·value control

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Using too much water and creating muddy colors.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Making the colors too saturated and unnatural.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·Watercolor paper 140lb
·Watercolor paints (yellow ochre, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue, sap green, raw umber, alizarin crimson)
·Round watercolor brushes (sizes 4, 8, 12)
·Water container
·Palette
·Masking tape
·Pencil
·Eraser