plate no. 3885
Lindisfarne
Thomas Girtin, 1798
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in architectural rendering, atmospheric perspective, and creating textures with watercolor washes. It also provides practice in depicting light and shadow to create depth and form.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main architectural shapes and the horizon line.
- step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted raw sienna and burnt umber to the entire ruin structure.
- step 03
Build up darker values in the shadows using a mix of burnt umber and indigo.
- step 04
Add details to the architecture, such as the arches and columns, using a fine brush.
- step 05
Paint the sky with a diluted wash of cerulean blue and a touch of grey, blending it softly.
- step 06
Add the figures and animals in the foreground with small, precise brushstrokes.
- step 07
Create texture on the ground using dry brush techniques with burnt umber and raw sienna.
- step 08
Add final highlights with a touch of white or very diluted yellow ochre.
color palette
primary · raw sienna · burnt umber · indigo · cerulean blue
secondary · yellow ochre · payne's gray
Mix burnt umber and indigo for dark shadows. Use diluted raw sienna for the base washes. Mix cerulean blue with a touch of grey for the sky.
techniques
- ·watercolor washes
- ·dry brush
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·rendering architecture
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early.
- →Using too much water and losing control of the washes.
- →Not creating enough contrast between light and shadow.
- →Making the colors too saturated.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paints
- ·watercolor brushes (round and flat)
- ·watercolor paper (140lb)
- ·palette
- ·water container
- ·pencil
- ·eraser
optional
- ·masking fluid
- ·ruler
- ·palette knife
- ·watercolor pencils
Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying levels of detail.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
related artworks
Romantic Landscape
Karl Lessing
Self-portrait with his brother Francesco
Giuseppe Tominz
Oenone Refuse de Secourir Pâris au Siège de Troie
Léon Cogniet
Duke of Alba
Francisco Goya
Blick Aus Dem Wald Ins Tal
Andreas Achenbach
Young Girl Fixing Her Hair
Sophie Gengembre Anderson
The Plough Inn
William Shayer
Hudson River Landscape
Johann Hermann Carmiencke