plate no. 6844

Note in Blue and Opal

watercolorImpressionismlandscapebeachseaskycloudscoastlinefigures

some experience helpful

This painting is great for learning wet-on-wet watercolor techniques and how to create atmospheric perspective. Students will also practice simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the horizon line and major landforms.
step 02
Wet the entire paper with clean water.
step 03
Apply a diluted wash of blue and grey to the sky, allowing the colors to blend and create soft clouds.
step 04
Add a light wash of yellow and brown to the foreground, creating the beach.
step 05
While the paper is still wet, add darker tones of brown and grey to define the landforms and create shadows.
step 06
Use a smaller brush to add details like the figures and distant buildings.
step 07
Let the painting dry completely.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights with a dry brush.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · raw umber · yellow ochre

secondary · payne's gray · titanium white

Mix blues and greys for the sky. Use yellow ochre and raw umber for the sand, varying the ratio to create different shades. Add white to soften colors.

techniques