plate no. 1211

Hassam Street in Portsmouth

oilImpressionismgenre paintingbuildingstreeshousesskystreetlandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering transparent washes and capturing the effects of light and shadow on architectural forms. It also encourages loose brushwork and simplification of details to create an impressionistic feel.

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: buildings, trees, and the horizon line.
step 02
Apply a light wash of blue for the sky, allowing it to blend softly.
step 03
Paint the distant background elements like the church tower with diluted washes of grey and green.
step 04
Begin layering washes on the buildings, using light greys, blues, and yellows to define the forms and shadows.
step 05
Add the foliage using loose, broken brushstrokes of green and brown, varying the intensity of the colors.
step 06
Define the tree trunks with light washes of grey and brown, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 07
Add details like windows, fences, and other architectural elements with darker washes.
step 08
Refine the details and add final touches to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · raw sienna · burnt umber

secondary · sap green · payne's grey · cadmium yellow

Achieve the subtle greys by mixing complementary colors like blue and orange or green and red. Use plenty of water to create transparent washes.

techniques

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

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them to create subtle variations.
→Making the shadows too dark and heavy.
→Not allowing each layer to dry before applying the next, leading to muddy colors.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·watercolor paints
·watercolor paper 140lb
·round brushes (sizes 4, 8, 12)
·flat brush (1 inch)
·water container
·palette
·masking tape
·sketching pencil

optional

·palette knife
·watercolor pencils
·kneaded eraser

Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling and allow for better blending. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying textures.

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