plate no. 2777
Mirror Lake
Franklin Carmichael, 1929
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand color mixing for landscapes and how to create reflections in water. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into stylized shapes.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the mountains, islands, and trees, paying attention to the composition.
- step 02
Establish the horizon line and the waterline, ensuring accurate proportions for the reflections.
- step 03
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, water, and land masses using diluted washes.
- step 04
Begin layering colors to create depth and variation in the mountains and islands, using a limited palette.
- step 05
Paint the reflections in the water, mirroring the shapes and colors of the land above, but with softened edges.
- step 06
Add details to the trees, using vertical strokes to create their form.
- step 07
Refine the colors and values, adjusting the contrast to create a sense of atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final touches, such as subtle highlights and shadows, to enhance the overall effect.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna
secondary · purple · green · white
Mix blues and yellows for various greens, blues and reds for purples. Use white to lighten colors and create tints for the sky and reflections.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·glazing
- ·wet-on-dry
- ·color mixing
- ·reflection
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the simplicity of the original.
- →Making the reflections too sharp and defined.
- →Using colors straight from the tube without mixing.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the landscape.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paints
- ·watercolor paper 140lb
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·water container
- ·paper towels
- ·pencil
optional
- ·masking fluid
- ·palette knife
- ·ruler
Use high-quality watercolor paints for best results. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve various effects.
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