plate no. 0252
Coastal landscape
Mary Fedden, 1973
some experience helpful
This painting is great for practicing simplified shapes and limited color palettes. Students can develop their understanding of atmospheric perspective and creating depth with tonal variations.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the horizon line, moon, and general shapes of the land and foliage.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a light grey wash, allowing for variations in tone.
- step 03
Paint the moon with a solid white or very light grey, softening the edges slightly.
- step 04
Establish the distant landmass with a muted grey, ensuring it's lighter than the foreground.
- step 05
Begin adding the foliage in the midground with darker greys and browns, using expressive brushstrokes.
- step 06
Continue building up the foliage in the foreground, using the darkest values to create contrast.
- step 07
Add subtle details to the foliage with dry brush strokes to suggest texture.
- step 08
Review the painting and adjust values as needed to enhance depth and create a cohesive composition.
color palette
primary · titanium white · lamp black · raw umber
secondary · payne's gray · yellow ochre
Mix various shades of grey by combining white and black. Add small amounts of raw umber or yellow ochre to warm the greys. Payne's gray can be used to create cooler, atmospheric tones.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·tonal gradation
- ·expressive brushwork
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the simplified, naive style.
- →Creating too much contrast in the background, which will flatten the image.
- →Using too many colors, which will muddy the overall effect.
- →Not varying the brushstrokes enough, resulting in a monotonous texture.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paper 140lb
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·titanium white watercolor
- ·lamp black watercolor
- ·raw umber watercolor
- ·palette
- ·water container
- ·paper towels
optional
- ·payne's gray watercolor
- ·yellow ochre watercolor
- ·masking fluid
Using a textured watercolor paper can enhance the dry brush effect. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varied textures.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
