plate no. 1131
La manzana
suitable for beginners
Recreating this painting will help students practice layering watercolor washes and creating form with simple color variations. It also offers a good opportunity to explore the relationship between an object and its shadow.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 4 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the outline of the apple and the table line.
- step 02
Apply a light wash of green for the table surface and various colors for the background.
- step 03
Begin layering red washes on the apple, building up darker tones where needed.
- step 04
Add details to the apple with darker reds and browns, using short, visible brushstrokes.
- step 05
Mix a dark green/blue for the shadow and apply it with visible brushstrokes.
- step 06
Refine the edges of the apple and shadow.
- step 07
Add the stem with a thin brush and black paint.
- step 08
Make sure the colors are vibrant and distinct.
color palette
primary · red · green · yellow
secondary · blue · pink · brown
Mix different shades of red by adding small amounts of brown or black. Create the shadow color by mixing green and blue.
techniques
- ·watercolor washes
- ·dry brush texture
- ·color layering
- ·shadow creation
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Applying too much water, causing the paper to buckle.
- →Not allowing layers to dry completely before adding more.
- →Ignoring the direction of light when creating the shadow.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·Watercolor paints
- ·Watercolor paper
- ·Round brushes (various sizes)
- ·Flat brush
- ·Water container
- ·Palette
- ·Pencil
- ·Eraser
optional
- ·Masking tape
- ·Palette knife
- ·White gouache
Use good quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve various textures.
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