plate no. 9096
Composition with Two Women
some experience helpful
This painting provides an opportunity to practice loose watercolor washes and expressive line work. Students can develop skills in capturing figures and architectural elements with a simplified color palette.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and composition with a pencil.
- step 02
Apply a light wash of blue for the sky, allowing it to dry.
- step 03
Paint the architectural elements with a diluted grey or light brown wash.
- step 04
Add the figures, starting with light washes of skin tones and dress colors.
- step 05
Build up the colors in the figures and dresses with subsequent washes, adding details like shadows and highlights.
- step 06
Use a fine-tipped pen or brush to add the linework, defining the shapes and adding details.
- step 07
Add final touches and details, such as the green accents on the dresses and the red accents on the figures.
- step 08
Allow to dry completely.
color palette
primary · Prussian Blue · Rose Madder · Burnt Sienna
secondary · Sap Green · Payne's Grey
Mix rose madder with white to create the pinks for the dress. Use burnt sienna and white for skin tones. Mix Prussian blue with a touch of black for the darker sky areas.
techniques
- ·Watercolor washes
- ·Dry brush
- ·Ink outlining
- ·Layering
- ·Limited palette
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the watercolor washes
- →Making the linework too heavy or stiff
- →Using too much water and losing control of the paint
- →Not allowing layers to dry completely before adding more
materials
surface · Watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·Watercolor paints
- ·Watercolor brushes (round and flat)
- ·Watercolor paper (140lb)
- ·Pencil
- ·Eraser
- ·Fine-tipped pen or brush
- ·Water container
optional
- ·Palette knife
- ·Masking fluid
- ·Ruler
Use good quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. A fine-tipped brush is essential for the linework.
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