plate no. 3321

Aloes near a River

oilImpressionismlandscapealoesdesertlandscapeplantsmountain

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering watercolor washes and creating texture with dry brush techniques. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the mountain, aloes, and foreground.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the sky and mountain.
step 03
Add a slightly darker wash to the mountain to define shadows and contours.
step 04
Paint the aloe leaves with a mix of viridian and cobalt blue, using varying amounts of water for different values.
step 05
Use a dry brush technique with burnt umber and orange to create the texture of the aloe trunks.
step 06
Paint the aloe flowers with cadmium yellow, cadmium red, and touches of white.
step 07
Add details to the foreground with diluted washes of green, brown, and yellow.
step 08
Refine the details and add final touches to the aloes and mountain.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · viridian

secondary · cadmium yellow · cadmium red · cobalt blue

Mix yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the warm tones of the mountain and foreground. Vary the ratio for different shades. Use viridian and cobalt blue for the aloe leaves, adding water to create lighter shades. Mix cadmium yellow and cadmium red for the aloe flowers.

techniques