plate no. 1491
Icon-lamp
Vasily Surikov, 1881
some experience helpful
This painting helps students practice loose watercolor washes and capturing the effect of light and shadow in a dimly lit interior. It also provides practice in rendering metallic objects and creating a sense of depth with limited color.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the icon, lamp, and surrounding architecture.
- step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted brown and yellow ochre to the background and walls.
- step 03
Add darker washes of burnt umber and black to create shadows and depth.
- step 04
Paint the icon with muted browns and grays, suggesting the figure without precise detail.
- step 05
Render the lamp with a mix of reds, browns, and blacks, paying attention to the highlights on the metal.
- step 06
Use a small brush to add the chain details with a mix of black and brown.
- step 07
Add the bright white highlight to the flame of the lamp.
- step 08
Refine the details and add any final touches to the painting.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · ivory black
secondary · cadmium red · titanium white
Mix burnt umber and yellow ochre for the warm browns of the walls. Add black to create darker shadows. Use white sparingly for highlights.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·dry brush texture
- ·layering washes
- ·glazing
- ·highlighting
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details
- →Using too much water and losing control of the washes
- →Making the colors too bright and saturated
- →Not establishing a clear value structure
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paints
- ·watercolor paper 140lb
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 6, 10)
- ·palette
- ·water container
- ·paper towels
optional
- ·masking fluid
- ·palette knife
- ·ruler
Use good quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying levels of detail.
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