plate no. 0665

Marakovo hill

Alfred Krupa, 1988

watercolorExpressionismlandscapelandscapetreeshillwaterskyreflection

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering watercolor washes and creating depth through value variations. It also provides practice in rendering organic shapes and textures with loose brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 5 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes: the hill, the water line, and the main tree trunks.
step 02
Apply a very diluted wash of yellow ochre or raw sienna to the entire paper as a base tone.
step 03
Begin layering washes of diluted browns and blues for the hill and trees, building up darker values in the shadows.
step 04
Use a slightly darker wash to define the reflections in the water, keeping them soft and blurred.
step 05
Add details to the trees with a fine brush, using darker browns and blues for the branches.
step 06
Create the foreground with darker, more concentrated washes of brown, defining the edge of the land.
step 07
Add final details and highlights with small touches of clean water or a slightly lighter wash.
step 08
Allow to dry completely.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

secondary · raw umber · payne's gray

Mix browns by combining burnt sienna and ultramarine blue. Vary the proportions to create warmer or cooler browns. Use yellow ochre to create lighter, warmer tones.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·layering washes
·dry brush texture
·negative painting

common pitfalls

→Overworking the washes and losing the transparency of the watercolor.
→Making the colors too muddy by over-mixing.
→Not allowing each layer to dry completely before applying the next.
→Creating too much detail and losing the loose, expressive feel.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·watercolor paints
·watercolor paper 140lb
·round brushes (sizes 4, 8, 12)
·water container
·palette
·paper towels

optional

·masking fluid
·palette knife
·spray bottle

Use good quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling and allow for better blending. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve various effects.

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