plate no. 1514

Bassano

oilPost-Impressionismcityscapebuildingscityscapefiguresarchitectureplazastreet

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose watercolor washes and capturing architectural details with simplified forms. It also encourages observation of light and shadow on buildings.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes of the buildings and figures, focusing on perspective.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow ochre or raw sienna to the entire paper as a base tone.
step 03
Begin with the sky, using a very diluted blue or gray wash, allowing it to blend softly.
step 04
Paint the buildings with loose washes of color, layering different hues to create depth and shadow.
step 05
Add darker values to indicate shadows and architectural details, such as windows and doorways.
step 06
Use a fine brush to add details like window frames and balcony railings.
step 07
Paint the figures with simple shapes and colors, focusing on their silhouettes.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · burnt umber

secondary · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson · violet

Mixes of yellow ochre and burnt umber create the warm tones of the buildings. Violet is achieved by mixing alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·dry brush texture
·layering washes
·linear perspective
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing, resulting in a flat appearance.
→Not allowing washes to dry completely before layering, leading to muddy colors.
→Ignoring perspective, making the buildings appear distorted.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·Watercolor paints
·Watercolor brushes (round and flat)
·Watercolor paper (140lb)
·Palette
·Water container
·Pencil
·Eraser
·Masking tape

optional

·palette knife
·ruler
·kneaded eraser

Use a good 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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