plate no. 6719

Old Sundborn Church

watercolor, paperArt Nouveau (Modern)landscapebuildingchurchlandscapeskyvegetationwindow

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in architectural rendering, color mixing for natural light, and creating texture with watercolor washes. It also provides practice in depicting details like shingles and window panes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the church and surrounding landscape, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the sky and ground, establishing the overall warm tone.
step 03
Begin layering washes of red and brown to build up the color of the church walls, allowing some areas to remain lighter for highlights.
step 04
Paint the roof with washes of gray and blue, varying the tones to suggest the texture of the shingles.
step 05
Add details to the windows and other architectural elements using a fine brush and darker shades of gray and white.
step 06
Paint the foliage with a variety of greens, yellows, and browns, using dry brush techniques to create texture.
step 07
Add final details such as the cross, chimney, and any other small elements to complete the scene.
step 08
Evaluate and adjust values and colors as needed to achieve a harmonious and balanced composition.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · Prussian blue · titanium white

secondary · raw umber · cadmium red light · sap green

Mix browns and grays by combining the primary colors. Use white to lighten values and create subtle highlights. Achieve the red brick color by mixing burnt sienna with a touch of cadmium red light.

techniques

·watercolor washes
·dry brush
·layering
·perspective drawing
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the watercolor washes, leading to muddy colors.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure, resulting in a flat and lifeless painting.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the building and landscape.
→Getting lost in the details before establishing the overall composition and values.