plate no. 3555

In front of the House

oilImpressionismcityscapebuildingsfigurestreethousesskyarchitecture

suitable for beginners

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in watercolor washes and creating depth through layering and value changes. It also provides practice in depicting architectural forms with simplified details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings and the figure.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow ochre or raw sienna to the entire paper as a base tone.
step 03
Begin layering in the sky with a very diluted blue wash, leaving some areas white for clouds.
step 04
Paint the buildings with a mix of white, raw sienna, and a touch of burnt umber, varying the values to create shadows and highlights.
step 05
Add details to the roofs using darker shades of burnt umber and raw sienna, indicating the roof tiles with short, broken strokes.
step 06
Paint the figure with a simple wash of diluted colors, focusing on the overall shape and pose.
step 07
Add shadows to the ground and buildings using a mix of burnt umber and raw sienna, creating depth and dimension.
step 08
Refine details and add final touches, such as windows and doors, using a fine brush.

color palette

primary · raw sienna · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cerulean blue · yellow ochre

Mix raw sienna and burnt umber for the earth tones. Dilute with water to create transparent washes. Use white to lighten the colors for highlights and to create the off-white of the buildings.

techniques

·watercolor washes
·layering
·dry brush
·wet-on-dry
·value control

common pitfalls

→Using too much water, which can cause the colors to bleed uncontrollably.
→Overworking the painting, which can result in a muddy or flat appearance.
→Failing to establish a clear value structure, which can make the painting look confusing.
→Not allowing each layer to dry completely before applying the next.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

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

optional

·palette knife
·ruler
·spray bottle
·kneaded eraser

Use good quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling and ensure the colors blend smoothly. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve various effects.

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