plate no. 2563

Nazareth at Sunrise

oilRomanticismlandscapelandscapebuildingshillsskytowntrees

some experience helpful

This painting is a good exercise in layering washes to create depth and atmosphere. Students will also practice rendering architectural forms with simplified shapes and subtle color variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the horizon line, the outline of the hill, the buildings, and the foreground.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted blue for the sky, fading towards the horizon.
step 03
Mix a light ochre wash and apply it to the hill and buildings, leaving some areas white for highlights.
step 04
Add a second wash of diluted burnt sienna and light red to the roofs and shadowed areas of the buildings.
step 05
Paint the foreground with a mix of brown, purple, and green washes, varying the intensity to create texture.
step 06
Add details to the buildings and trees with a smaller brush, using darker shades of the same colors.
step 07
Glaze the entire painting with a very diluted wash of yellow ochre to unify the colors.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights with white gouache or watercolor.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

secondary · light red · purple · sap green

Mix light washes by adding plenty of water to the primary colors. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna to create warm earth tones. Mix ultramarine blue with light red to create muted purples for shadows.

techniques

·watercolor washes
·layering
·dry brush
·glazing
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the washes, leading to muddy colors.
→Using too much water, causing the colors to bleed uncontrollably.
→Not allowing each layer to dry completely before applying the next.
→Making the colors too saturated; keep them light and transparent.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·watercolor paper 140lb
·watercolor paints
·round brushes (sizes 4, 8, 12)
·palette
·water container
·masking tape
·kneaded eraser

optional

·white gouache
·palette knife
·ruler

Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve various effects. Consider using masking tape to create clean edges.

tips & new artworks in your inbox

no spam — unsubscribe anytime.

or to save artworks, chat, and track progress

chat about this artwork

in this vein