plate no. 1606
La Donana, Venice
Henri-Edmond Cross, 1903
suitable for beginners
This painting is great for practicing loose watercolor washes and capturing reflections in water. Students can learn to simplify complex scenes and focus on essential shapes and colors.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 4 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: posts, buildings, and horizon line.
- step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow ochre for the sky and water.
- step 03
Paint the posts with a mix of blue and purple, varying the intensity.
- step 04
Add reflections in the water using the same blue and purple mix, creating wavy lines.
- step 05
Paint the buildings with light washes of yellow, orange, and pink.
- step 06
Add details to the buildings and posts with darker shades of the same colors.
- step 07
Use a fine brush to add subtle details like boats and figures.
- step 08
Let dry completely.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna
secondary · alizarin crimson · sap green
Mix ultramarine blue and burnt sienna for the darker shades of the posts and reflections. Use yellow ochre diluted with water for the sky and water. Mix alizarin crimson and yellow ochre for the building.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·dry brush texture
- ·watercolor washes
- ·color mixing
- ·creating reflections
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details
- →Using too much water
- →Making the colors too saturated
- →Not allowing the washes to dry completely before adding more layers
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paper 140lb
- ·watercolor paints
- ·round brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·palette
- ·water container
- ·paper towels
- ·pencil
- ·eraser
optional
- ·masking fluid
- ·palette knife
- ·ruler
Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve various effects.
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