plate no. 1955

End of Summer in Vermezo

Maria Bozoky, 1979

mixed techniqueExpressionismcityscapebuildingscityscapetreesskyarchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose watercolor washes and expressive line work. It also encourages simplification of complex scenes and capturing the essence of a place.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings and trees with a pencil.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted colors to the sky, allowing colors to blend and bleed.
step 03
Add washes of color to the buildings, varying the intensity to create depth.
step 04
Paint the trees and foliage with loose, expressive brushstrokes, using greens, blues, and browns.
step 05
Allow the watercolor to dry completely.
step 06
Use a fine-tipped pen to add linear details to the buildings, windows, and trees.
step 07
Emphasize key lines and shapes to create a sense of structure and form.
step 08
Add final touches of color and line work to balance the composition.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Alizarin crimson · Yellow ochre

secondary · Sap green · Violet · Burnt umber

Mix blues and reds for the sky and purples for shadows. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber for warm tones in the buildings. Mix greens from blue and yellow.

techniques

·Wet-on-wet blending
·Dry brush
·Layering washes
·Expressive linework
·Color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the watercolor washes, leading to muddy colors.
→Being too precise with the linework, losing the expressive quality.
→Not allowing washes to dry completely before adding details.
→Failing to simplify the complex scene, resulting in a cluttered composition.

materials

surface · Watercolor paper 140lb

required

·Watercolor paints
·Watercolor brushes (round and flat)
·Fine-tipped pen (black)
·Watercolor paper (140lb)
·Pencil
·Eraser
·Water container
·Palette

optional

·Masking fluid
·Palette knife
·Ruler

Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling and ensure vibrant colors. Experiment with different pen types to find one that suits your style.

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