plate no. 2367

Palm Tree, Nassau

watercolorRealismlandscapepalm treeoceanskycloudslighthousetropical landscape

some experience helpful

Students would develop watercolor wet-on-wet techniques for sky washes and learn to paint botanical subjects with confident, directional brushstrokes that capture movement and wind.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 4 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition with light pencil lines, establishing the palm tree's gesture and horizon line
step 02
Begin with a light wet-on-wet wash for the sky using diluted grays and blues
step 03
Paint the ocean with horizontal strokes of cerulean blue, leaving white paper for foam
step 04
Block in the palm trunk with vertical brushstrokes using raw umber and burnt sienna
step 05
Paint the palm fronds with confident directional strokes, varying pressure for wind movement
step 06
Add the distant lighthouse and land masses with simple shapes
step 07
Paint the foreground vegetation with loose, varied greens and earth tones
step 08
Refine details and add final touches to enhance the sense of wind and atmosphere

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · raw umber · burnt sienna · payne's gray

secondary · sap green · yellow ochre · cadmium red · titanium white

Mix grays from blue and burnt sienna for clouds, create palm green from sap green and raw umber, use pure cerulean for ocean with white paper showing through

techniques