plate no. 2626
Coaltown
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose watercolor washes and capturing atmospheric perspective. It also encourages simplification of complex scenes into basic shapes and colors.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the hills, water, and town layout.
- step 02
Apply a light wash of yellow and green to the sky area.
- step 03
Create a dark blue wash for the sky and mountain area, allowing it to blend with the yellow.
- step 04
Paint the water area with a diluted blue-green wash.
- step 05
Add darker green and brown washes to the hills, building up depth.
- step 06
Use small brushstrokes to define the buildings with reds, yellows, and whites.
- step 07
Add final details and highlights to the buildings and landscape.
- step 08
Allow the painting to dry completely.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · sap green
secondary · burnt sienna · titanium white · raw umber
Mix ultramarine blue with a touch of burnt sienna to create the darker blues. Use varying amounts of water to control the intensity of the washes. Mix yellow ochre and sap green for the sky and hills.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·dry brush texture
- ·watercolor washes
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·color layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the washes and losing the transparency of the watercolor.
- →Making the details too precise and losing the impressionistic feel.
- →Using too much water and causing the colors to bleed uncontrollably.
- →Not allowing each layer to dry before applying the next.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paints
- ·watercolor paper 140lb
- ·round brushes (sizes 4, 8, 12)
- ·water container
- ·palette
- ·masking tape
- ·paper towels
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·spray bottle
- ·kneaded eraser
Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying levels of detail.
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