plate no. 6795

Árbol de la Noche Triste

Jose Maria Velasco, 1910

oilImpressionismcityscapetreebuildingchurchlandscapearchitecturesky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering watercolor washes and creating depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in rendering organic forms like trees and architectural details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: tree, church, and ground plane.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow ochre and burnt sienna to the sky and building.
step 03
Paint the tree trunk with layers of burnt sienna, raw umber, and touches of alizarin crimson, building up the shadows.
step 04
Add the foliage using a mix of sap green, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue, varying the intensity for depth.
step 05
Paint the ground with washes of green, yellow ochre, and burnt sienna, suggesting grass and dirt.
step 06
Add details to the church, such as the windows, door, and architectural elements, using a fine brush.
step 07
Refine the shadows and highlights throughout the painting to enhance the form.
step 08
Add final touches, such as small details in the foliage and ground.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · sap green

secondary · raw umber · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue

Mix yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the warm tones of the buildings and ground. Use sap green with touches of blue for cooler foliage and green for the grass. Burnt sienna and alizarin crimson create the reddish-brown tones in the tree trunk.

techniques

·watercolor washes
·layering
·dry brushing
·atmospheric perspective
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the washes, leading to muddy colors.
→Not allowing layers to dry completely before adding more.
→Using too much water, causing the paint to bleed uncontrollably.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the tree trunk and foliage.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·watercolor paints
·watercolor paper 140lb
·round brushes (various sizes)
·flat brush
·palette
·water container
·paper towels

optional

·masking fluid
·palette knife
·kneaded eraser
·ruler

Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling and allow for multiple washes. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying levels of detail.

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