plate no. 4144

Alcázar of Seville

Vasily Surikov, 1910

watercolor, paperRealismcityscapebuildingarchitecturepalm treesskyarcheslandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in watercolor washes, layering, and creating atmospheric perspective. It will also improve their understanding of architectural rendering and capturing light and shadow.

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 building, palm tree, and horizon line.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted purple/grey for the sky, allowing it to dry.
step 03
Paint the building's base color with a diluted mix of ochre and burnt sienna, leaving highlights.
step 04
Add shadows to the building and ground using a mix of burnt umber and purple.
step 05
Paint the palm tree with varying shades of green and brown, using a dry brush technique for texture.
step 06
Add details to the arches and roof tiles with darker shades of brown and red.
step 07
Paint the foliage with loose, varied greens, adding hints of red for flowers.
step 08
Refine details and add final touches, such as shadows on the ground.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

secondary · burnt umber · sap green · alizarin crimson

Mix burnt sienna and yellow ochre for the building's base. Combine ultramarine blue and alizarin crimson for the sky and shadows. Use sap green and yellow ochre for the foliage.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·dry brush texture
·watercolor washes
·layering
·lifting

common pitfalls

→Overworking the watercolor and losing its transparency.
→Making the colors too saturated and not diluted enough.
→Not allowing layers to dry completely before adding new ones.
→Failing to capture the atmospheric perspective by making distant objects too dark.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·Watercolor paints (tubes or pans)
·Watercolor paper (140lb or heavier)
·Round watercolor brushes (sizes 2, 6, 10)
·Palette for mixing paints
·Water container
·Paper towels
·Pencil
·Eraser

optional

·Masking fluid
·Palette knife
·Spray bottle
·Watercolor pencils

Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling and allow for better blending. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying levels of detail.

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