plate no. 6196
Preliminary Illustration
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and figures, paying attention to proportions.
- step 02
Block in the background with a flat wash of blue.
- step 03
Establish the basic values of the figures and animals using light washes.
- step 04
Add details to the faces and clothing, focusing on the highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Use dry brush techniques to create texture in the sheep's wool and bull's fur.
- step 06
Refine the linework and add final details, such as the umbrella pattern and the exhibition sign.
- step 07
Add the blue lattice-work background.
- step 08
Apply a final layer of light washes to unify the painting.
color palette
primary · Prussian blue · Burnt sienna · Titanium white
secondary · Cadmium red light · Yellow ochre
Mix burnt sienna and white for the skin tones and sheep's wool. Use Prussian blue and white for the sky, and add a touch of burnt sienna to create a muted blue for the background lattice.
techniques
- ·Dry brushing
- ·Layering washes
- ·Linework
- ·Limited palette
- ·Figure drawing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details
- →Creating muddy colors
- →Incorrect proportions in the figures
- →Losing the overall sense of light and shadow
materials
surface · Watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·Watercolor paper 140lb
- ·Watercolor paints
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·Palette
- ·Water container
- ·Pencil
optional
- ·Palette knife
- ·Masking fluid
- ·Ruler
Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve various textures.
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