plate no. 8846

African Landscape

watercolor, tuscheExpressionismlandscapelandscapetreesmountainsskycloudsvegetation

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand value relationships in a limited palette and practice creating depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in rendering detailed linework over a watercolor wash.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main elements: the tree, mountains, and foreground.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted brown watercolor to the entire paper for an underpainting.
step 03
Build up darker values in the sky and foreground using multiple washes, allowing some areas to remain lighter.
step 04
Use a fine brush or pen and ink (tusche) to add details to the tree, mountains, and vegetation.
step 05
Add highlights to the clouds and tree using white gouache or watercolor.
step 06
Refine the details and adjust values as needed.
step 07
Add final touches to the foreground vegetation with darker tones.
step 08
Allow to dry completely.

color palette

primary · sepia · burnt umber

secondary · white · ivory black

Achieve different shades of brown by diluting the primary colors with water. Use white to create highlights and lighter tones. A touch of black can deepen shadows.

techniques

·watercolor wash
·dry brushing
·pen and ink linework
·atmospheric perspective
·value studies

common pitfalls

→Overworking the watercolor washes, leading to muddy colors.
→Making the linework too heavy or uniform.
→Failing to create a sense of depth.
→Not allowing washes to dry completely before adding details.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·watercolor paper 140lb
·sepia watercolor
·burnt umber watercolor
·round brush #4
·fine liner brush
·tusche ink or fine liner pen
·water container

optional

·white gouache
·palette
·masking fluid
·kneaded eraser

Using a rough texture watercolor paper can enhance the dry brush effect. Experiment with different brown watercolor pigments to find your preferred tone.

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