plate no. 1350
Bagnara Calabra
Edward Lear, 1852
suitable for beginners
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and layering washes to create depth. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: horizon line, hills, buildings, and boats.
- step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted blue for the sky, fading towards the horizon.
- step 03
Paint the sea with a slightly darker blue wash, adding hints of green.
- step 04
Wash in the hills with a mix of gray and yellow ochre, varying the tones for depth.
- step 05
Add the basic shapes of the buildings with light washes of ochre, red, and brown.
- step 06
Paint the trees with a mix of green and brown, using small, broken strokes.
- step 07
Add details to the boats and buildings with darker washes, paying attention to shadows.
- step 08
Finally, add subtle details to the foreground beach with light washes of gray and blue.
color palette
primary · cerulean blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna
secondary · raw umber · sap green · titanium white
Mix blues and greens for the sea, grays with yellow ochre for the hills, and dilute colors with water to create transparent washes.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·layering washes
- ·dry brush texture
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early.
- →Using colors straight from the tube without diluting them.
- →Creating harsh lines instead of soft transitions.
- →Not allowing layers to dry completely before adding more.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paper 140lb
- ·watercolor paints
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 6, 10)
- ·palette
- ·water container
- ·paper towels
- ·pencil
- ·kneaded eraser
optional
- ·masking fluid
- ·ruler
- ·watercolor pencils
Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve various effects.
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