plate no. 9832

Afternoon in Spring, with South Wind, at Neuchatel

oilRomanticismmarinamountainswatercliffsskycloudslandscape

some experience helpful

This painting is good for practicing watercolor washes and layering techniques to create depth and atmosphere. Students can learn to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and values.

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: mountains, land, and water.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted blue and gray for the sky and clouds.
step 03
Paint the distant mountains with a diluted gray-blue wash.
step 04
Add a green wash for the land, varying the tones for depth.
step 05
Paint the cliffs with a mix of ochre and brown, adding shadows for dimension.
step 06
Apply a blue-green wash for the water, leaving some areas lighter for highlights.
step 07
Add darker blues and greens to the water to create waves and depth.
step 08
Refine details in the mountains and cliffs with darker values.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · raw umber · yellow ochre

secondary · sap green · titanium white · burnt sienna

Mix blues and grays for the sky and mountains. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the cliffs. Combine blues and greens for the water, lightening with white.

techniques