plate no. 2808

Monastery of St. John of Lake Ohrid

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapewaterbuildingrockstreeslandscapesky

some experience helpful

This painting provides practice in layering watercolor washes to create depth and atmosphere. Students will learn to simplify complex forms into basic shapes and use color temperature to suggest light and shadow.

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 large rock, the building, trees, and the water line.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted blue to the sky and water, leaving some areas white for highlights.
step 03
Paint the large rock with a mix of yellow ochre and a touch of blue, varying the intensity for shadows.
step 04
Add darker blues and purples to the shadows of the rocks and the water reflections.
step 05
Paint the building with a light wash of white and a touch of yellow, adding details like the door with a darker blue.
step 06
Use a smaller brush to add the trees and branches, varying the colors from brown to blue.
step 07
Add final details like the reflections in the water and the small rocks in the foreground.
step 08
Let each layer dry before applying the next to avoid muddy colors.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · purple

Mix ultramarine blue with yellow ochre to create various shades of green and gray. Use white to lighten the blues and yellows for highlights. Add a touch of burnt umber to darken the shadows.

techniques

·wet-on-dry
·layering
·dry brush
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the washes, leading to muddy colors.
→Not allowing each layer to dry completely before applying the next.
→Using too much water, causing the colors to bleed uncontrollably.
→Failing to simplify the complex forms into basic shapes.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·watercolor paper 140lb
·watercolor paints (ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, burnt umber, titanium white)
·round watercolor brushes (sizes 2, 6, 10)
·water container
·palette
·masking tape
·pencil

optional

·palette knife
·watercolor pencils
·kneaded eraser

Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling and ensure good color absorption. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve various effects.

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