plate no. 9938

Les Plans sur Bex, a barn with tractor

Hubertine Heijermans, 2003

watercolor, paperRealismlandscapebarntractormountainstreeslandscapebuilding

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering watercolor washes and creating depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in rendering textures and details with loose brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: barn, mountains, and tractor.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow and blue for the sky and distant mountains.
step 03
Paint the distant trees with a mix of greens and browns, using a wet-on-wet technique for soft edges.
step 04
Begin layering washes on the barn, starting with light grays and adding darker tones for shadows.
step 05
Paint the tractor with reds and grays, adding details with a fine brush.
step 06
Add details to the foreground, including the path and vegetation, using a variety of greens and browns.
step 07
Refine the details and add final touches, such as shadows and highlights.
step 08
Allow to dry completely.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · burnt sienna · raw umber

secondary · sap green · cadmium red · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of gray by combining blue, brown, and a touch of red. Achieve greens by mixing blue and yellow, and vary the tones with touches of brown.

techniques