plate no. 0524

Karer See

John Singer Sargent, 1914

watercolorImpressionismlandscapemountainstreeslakerocksskyclouds

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering transparent washes and capturing atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in rendering complex textures with loose, expressive brushstrokes.

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: mountains, trees, and lake.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted blue and violet to the sky and upper mountain areas.
step 03
Add a warmer yellow/orange wash to the sunlit areas of the mountains.
step 04
Paint the distant trees with a mix of greens and browns, using a wet-on-wet technique for a soft edge.
step 05
Begin layering darker greens and browns to define the trees and create depth.
step 06
Paint the lake with varying shades of blue and green, reflecting the sky and trees.
step 07
Add details to the rocks in the foreground using grays, browns, and purples.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to the mountains, trees, and water.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre

secondary · viridian green · burnt sienna

Mix blues and reds to create the purples in the mountains. Use yellow ochre and blue for the greens in the trees. Dilute colors significantly for transparent washes.

techniques