plate no. 0910
Landscape of Algeria
Jean Dubuffet, 1919
suitable for beginners
Recreating this painting will help students practice tonal washes and simplified representation of complex forms. It also encourages observation of how light and shadow define shapes.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the trees, buildings, and landscape.
- step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted grey/brown to the entire background to create the hazy atmosphere.
- step 03
Begin adding darker tones to the trees, focusing on the shadows within the foliage.
- step 04
Paint the buildings with simplified shapes, using darker tones for shadows and lighter tones for highlights.
- step 05
Add details to the foreground vegetation, using short, expressive strokes.
- step 06
Refine the shadows and highlights throughout the painting to create depth.
- step 07
Add final details, such as the thin branches of the trees.
- step 08
Evaluate and adjust the overall tonal balance.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white
secondary · burnt sienna
Mix ivory black with titanium white to create various shades of grey. Add a touch of raw umber to warm the greys. Use diluted burnt sienna for the roofs.
techniques
- ·tonal washes
- ·dry brushing
- ·simplified forms
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the simplicity of the original.
- →Making the tonal values too uniform, resulting in a flat image.
- →Not diluting the paint enough for the initial washes.
- →Ignoring the atmospheric perspective and making the background too sharp.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paper 140lb
- ·ivory black watercolor
- ·raw umber watercolor
- ·burnt sienna watercolor
- ·titanium white gouache or watercolor
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·water container
- ·palette
optional
- ·masking fluid
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·ruler
Use good quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying effects.
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