plate no. 3361

Goody and Mrs. Hackee

Beatrix Potter, 1911

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)illustrationsquirrelsfigurestreesclothingfoliage

suitable for beginners

This painting offers a good opportunity to practice layering watercolor washes and creating soft, blended edges. Students can also learn about depicting textures and details in animal fur and clothing.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and figures, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted brown and gray to the background trees and ground.
step 03
Add a light wash of color to the squirrels' bodies and clothing, establishing the base tones.
step 04
Build up layers of color on the squirrels, adding details like fur texture and clothing folds.
step 05
Mix and apply the pink hues for Mrs. Hackee's dress, blending the edges softly.
step 06
Use a fine brush to add details like eyes, whiskers, and patterns on the clothing.
step 07
Add final touches to the background foliage and ground, using a dry brush technique for texture.
step 08
Refine the shadows and highlights to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · pink · light blue · sap green

Mix browns and grays by combining raw umber and white. Achieve pinks by mixing a touch of red with white. Use diluted washes to create the soft, muted tones.

techniques

·watercolor washes
·dry brush
·blending
·layering
·fine detail brushwork

common pitfalls

→Overworking the colors and losing the delicate, transparent quality.
→Making the outlines too harsh and defined.
→Not paying attention to the proportions of the figures.
→Using too much water and causing the colors to bleed uncontrollably.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·watercolor paints
·watercolor brushes (round and flat)
·watercolor paper (140lb)
·palette
·water container
·paper towels
·pencil
·eraser

optional

·masking fluid
·palette knife
·ruler

Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling and ensure good color absorption. A variety of brush sizes will be helpful for different details.

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