plate no. 7219
Rainbow
Anna Ostroumova-Lebedeva, 1923
some experience helpful
Recreating this image will help students understand the use of positive and negative space to create form and depth. It also provides practice in creating texture using line work.
technical profile
palette complexity
1
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
5
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the trees, water, and sky.
- step 02
Define the horizon line and the waterline.
- step 03
Begin filling in the dark areas with solid black, starting with the sky and reflections.
- step 04
Use varying line directions and densities to create texture in the trees and foliage.
- step 05
Add details to the water reflections using vertical lines of varying thickness.
- step 06
Refine the edges of the shapes to create crisp contrasts.
- step 07
Add any final details to the foreground.
- step 08
Review the composition and make any necessary adjustments to the balance of light and dark.
color palette
primary · black · white
secondary ·
This image uses only black and white, focusing on value contrast.
techniques
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·positive and negative space
- ·line variation
common pitfalls
- →Creating muddy or unclear shapes due to insufficient contrast.
- →Making the line work too uniform, resulting in a flat appearance.
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall composition.
- →Failing to plan out the composition before starting to fill in the dark areas.
materials
surface · smooth white paper
required
- ·white paper
- ·black ink or paint
- ·fine liner pens or small brushes
- ·pencil
- ·eraser
- ·ruler
optional
- ·tracing paper
- ·light box
- ·watercolor brush
Use high-quality ink or paint to achieve deep blacks. Experiment with different pen sizes or brush types to create varied line weights.
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