plate no. 1283
Corfu
suitable for beginners
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose watercolor washes and capturing light and shadow with minimal detail. It's a good exercise in simplifying complex scenes and focusing on overall impression.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 4 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the island, building, and pier.
- step 02
Apply a light wash of blue for the sky and water, leaving some areas white for highlights.
- step 03
Paint the building with a diluted mix of ochre and a touch of red, varying the intensity for shadows.
- step 04
Add the roof using a slightly darker and more concentrated mix of the same colors.
- step 05
Paint the tree with a light green wash, adding darker green for shadows.
- step 06
Add the pier and boats with light washes of brown and blue, respectively.
- step 07
Define the edges of the island and building with slightly darker washes.
- step 08
Add final details like reflections in the water and small accents of color.
color palette
primary · cerulean blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna
secondary · sap green · ultramarine blue
Mix ochre and burnt sienna for the building and roof. Dilute colors significantly for washes. Use more water for lighter tones and less for darker tones.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·dry brush texture
- ·watercolor washes
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details; keep it loose and impressionistic.
- →Using too much paint; the washes should be transparent.
- →Making the colors too saturated; dilute them with water.
- →Losing the light; preserve the white areas of the paper.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paints
- ·watercolor brushes (round and flat)
- ·watercolor paper (140lb)
- ·palette
- ·water container
- ·pencil
- ·eraser
optional
- ·masking fluid
- ·palette knife
- ·ruler
Use good quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying effects.
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