plate no. 7536

Marketta on Lázeňská street, Prague

Maria Bozoky, 1985

watercolorExpressionismcityscapefigurebuildingcityscapetowerskyportrait

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose watercolor washes, expressive linework, and capturing a sense of atmosphere and mood. It also encourages simplification of forms and focusing on essential details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the figure, tower, and background buildings.
step 02
Apply a light wash of skin tones to the figure's face and neck.
step 03
Add washes of gray and brown to the tower, varying the intensity for shadows.
step 04
Paint the background buildings with loose washes of yellow and brown.
step 05
Use blue and white washes for the sky, creating a sense of movement.
step 06
Add details with ink or a fine brush, defining edges and adding texture.
step 07
Use short, expressive strokes to create the figure's clothing and hair.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to enhance the overall composition.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · yellow ochre

secondary · alizarin crimson · payne's gray

Mix burnt umber and ultramarine for the grays of the tower. Use yellow ochre and a touch of alizarin crimson for skin tones. Dilute colors significantly for transparent washes.

techniques