plate no. 2874
Courmayeur
Achille Beltrame, 1928
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the subtle color variations in natural light. It also provides practice in painting architectural forms and figures within a landscape.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: mountains, buildings, and foreground.
- step 02
Block in the sky with diluted washes of blues and grays.
- step 03
Establish the mountain range using light grays and whites, suggesting snow and shadows.
- step 04
Paint the basic shapes of the buildings with light washes of ochre, gray, and brown.
- step 05
Add details to the buildings, such as windows, roofs, and textures.
- step 06
Paint the foreground field with varying shades of green and yellow, adding subtle textures.
- step 07
Add figures and other small details to the foreground.
- step 08
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and colors as needed.
color palette
primary · titanium white · raw umber · cerulean blue
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · sap green
Mix grays by combining white, blue, and umber. Achieve the greens by mixing blue and yellow ochre, adjusting the ratio for different shades.
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·dry brushing
- ·layering washes
- ·color mixing
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details in the mountains
- →Making the colors too saturated
- →Ignoring the subtle value changes
- →Creating flat, lifeless greens in the foreground
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paper 140lb
- ·watercolor paints
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·water container
- ·masking tape
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·gouache
- ·watercolor pencils
Use high-quality watercolor paper to allow for layering and blending. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve various textures.
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