plate no. 2772

Kidwelly Church, Caermarthenshire

oilRomanticismcityscapechurchbuildinglandscapeskyfoliagearchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in architectural sketching and watercolor washes. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere with limited color.

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 church and surrounding landscape, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow ochre and raw sienna to the sky and distant land.
step 03
Mix a slightly darker wash of burnt umber and raw sienna for the roof and stone walls.
step 04
Use a fine brush to add details to the windows, doors, and architectural features with a darker brown mixture.
step 05
Create the foliage with short, broken strokes of green and brown washes.
step 06
Add shadows to the building and landscape using a slightly darker and cooler brown mix.
step 07
Reinforce the outlines of the building with a fine pen or a very thin brush and dark brown ink/paint.
step 08
Add final details and highlights with white or very light washes.

color palette

primary · raw sienna · burnt umber · yellow ochre

secondary · sap green · payne's gray

Mix raw sienna and burnt umber for the primary building color. Add yellow ochre for highlights and sap green for the foliage. Use Payne's gray sparingly for shadows and details.

techniques