plate no. 4673

Briggs Meadow

Neil Welliver, 1977

watercolor, paperContemporary Realismlandscapelandscapetreesmountainsskyriverforest

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering watercolor washes to create depth and texture, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective to depict distance.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, including the mountains, river, and tree placement.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted blue and gray for the sky, leaving some areas white for clouds.
step 03
Paint the distant mountains with a light green wash, adding darker greens for shadows.
step 04
Layer washes of varying green tones for the midground and foreground, creating depth.
step 05
Add details to the trees in the foreground, using a smaller brush for individual leaves and branches.
step 06
Paint the river with a light blue-gray wash, adding darker tones for shadows and reflections.
step 07
Use dry brush techniques to create texture in the foreground foliage.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · sap green · cerulean blue · raw umber

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · payne's gray

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, and use raw umber to create muted earth tones. Achieve grays by mixing complementary colors or using Payne's gray.

techniques