plate no. 1219
Baroque and Gothic
Maria Bozoky, 1994
some experience helpful
This painting offers practice in loose sketching and layering washes to create depth and form. Students can develop their understanding of color mixing and expressive mark-making.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the figure and architectural elements using a pencil.
- step 02
Apply a thin wash of diluted blue and gray watercolor to the background, allowing it to dry.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of the figure's clothing with darker washes of blue and black.
- step 04
Add details to the face and hair using light washes of pink and white.
- step 05
Introduce red accents to the clothing and architectural details.
- step 06
Use a fine-tipped pen or marker to create linear details and outlines.
- step 07
Layer additional washes to deepen shadows and create contrast.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details with white gouache or watercolor.
color palette
primary · Prussian blue · Payne's gray · Crimson
secondary · White · Yellow Ochre · Sap Green
Mix blues and grays with varying amounts of water to achieve different values. Use crimson sparingly for accents. Mix white with other colors to create lighter tints for highlights.
techniques
- ·watercolor washes
- ·pen and ink linework
- ·dry brushing
- ·layering
- ·expressive mark-making
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the washes and losing the transparency.
- →Creating muddy colors by mixing too many pigments.
- →Being too precise with the linework and losing the expressive quality.
- →Not allowing washes to dry completely before adding subsequent layers.
materials
surface · Watercolor paper (140lb)
required
- ·Watercolor paints
- ·Round brushes (various sizes)
- ·Fine-tipped pen or marker
- ·Watercolor paper (140lb)
- ·Pencil
- ·Eraser
- ·Water container
optional
- ·Gouache
- ·Palette knife
- ·Masking fluid
Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Experiment with different types of pens and markers to find one that suits your style.
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