plate no. 6915
La tour des rats
Victor Hugo, 1847
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: mountains, water, boat, and architectural elements.
- step 02
Establish the overall tonal range with a thin wash of diluted brown or gray.
- step 03
Begin building up darker values in the foreground and architectural details.
- step 04
Use a dry brush technique to create texture in the mountains and rocky areas.
- step 05
Add highlights to the water and boat to create a sense of depth.
- step 06
Soften edges and blend tones to create atmospheric perspective.
- step 07
Refine details and add final touches to the architectural elements.
- step 08
Add drips and runs for a dramatic effect
color palette
primary · sepia · raw umber · ivory black
secondary · titanium white · payne's gray
Mix sepia with raw umber and ivory black to create a range of dark and mid-tone browns. Use titanium white to lighten the colors for highlights and atmospheric effects.
techniques
- ·tonal painting
- ·dry brush
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·washes
- ·blending
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details
- →Creating too much contrast too early
- →Ignoring atmospheric perspective
- →Using too much water and making the painting muddy
materials
surface · watercolor paper (cold press)
required
- ·sepia ink or watercolor
- ·raw umber watercolor
- ·ivory black watercolor
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·watercolor paper (cold press)
- ·water container
- ·palette
optional
- ·masking fluid
- ·palette knife
- ·spray bottle
Experiment with different dilutions of ink or watercolor to achieve a range of tones. Use a larger brush for washes and a smaller brush for details.
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