plate no. 3806

Drought (Arkaba)

Hans Heysen, 1929

oilRealismlandscapelandscapemountainstreesskydeserthills

suitable for beginners

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering washes to create depth and atmosphere, as well as simplifying complex landscapes into basic shapes and values. It's a good exercise in understanding atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the horizon line and major landscape features (mountains, hills, foreground).
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted blue for the sky, allowing it to fade towards the horizon.
step 03
Mix a light brown/ochre wash and apply it to the distant mountains, creating a base layer.
step 04
Layer progressively darker and warmer washes of browns and reds for the hills and foreground, building up depth.
step 05
Add details to the trees with a fine brush, using darker browns and blacks.
step 06
Create shadows and highlights in the foreground to define the terrain.
step 07
Glaze over certain areas to unify the color palette and enhance the atmospheric perspective.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · burnt sienna · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · raw umber · cadmium red light

Mix various shades of brown by combining burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and raw umber. Use ultramarine blue to darken browns and create cooler tones for shadows. Dilute colors significantly with water to achieve transparent washes.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·layering washes
·dry brush texture
·atmospheric perspective
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the washes, leading to muddy colors.
→Using too much paint, resulting in a heavy and opaque look.
→Ignoring the importance of atmospheric perspective, making the landscape appear flat.
→Not allowing washes to dry completely before adding subsequent layers.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·watercolor paper 140lb
·watercolor paints
·round brushes (sizes 2, 6, 10)
·flat brush (1 inch)
·water container
·palette
·masking tape
·sketching pencil

optional

·kneaded eraser
·watercolor pencils
·ruler

Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling and ensure good color absorption. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve various effects.

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