plate no. 1771

Adelaide Hills

Dorrit Black, 1935

oilCubismlandscapehillslandscapetreesskyfields

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to simplify complex landscapes into geometric forms and practice layering watercolor washes to create depth and subtle color variations.

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 of the hills and the tree, focusing on their geometric forms.
step 02
Mix a light wash of yellow ochre and apply it to the entire landscape as a base layer.
step 03
Add washes of green and brown to the hills, varying the intensity to create depth and shadow.
step 04
Use a slightly darker green to define the edges of the hills and create a sense of form.
step 05
Mix a muted blue-gray for the sky and apply it in a thin wash, leaving some areas lighter to suggest clouds.
step 06
Paint the tree trunk with a thin wash of burnt umber, adding darker tones for shadow.
step 07
Add the branches with a fine brush, using a mix of burnt umber and black.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to the hills and tree to enhance the sense of depth and form.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · sap green · burnt umber

secondary · cerulean blue · alizarin crimson

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and cerulean blue. Achieve browns by mixing burnt umber with yellow ochre and a touch of alizarin crimson. Create muted tones by adding a touch of complementary color.

techniques

·watercolor washes
·layering
·dry brush
·color mixing
·geometric simplification

common pitfalls

→Overworking the washes and creating muddy colors.
→Losing the geometric forms of the hills.
→Making the colors too saturated.
→Not allowing each layer to dry completely before applying the next.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·watercolor paints
·watercolor paper 140lb
·round brushes (sizes 2, 6, 10)
·palette
·water container
·mixing palette
·pencil
·eraser

optional

·masking fluid
·palette knife
·ruler

Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling and ensure good color absorption. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying levels of detail.

tips & new artworks in your inbox

no spam — unsubscribe anytime.

or to save artworks, chat, and track progress

chat about this artwork

in this vein