plate no. 3846
Restaurant Owner
Boris Kustodiev, 1920
some experience helpful
This painting provides practice in capturing a likeness and rendering various textures with watercolor. Students will learn to layer washes and create depth through color variations.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and composition, focusing on proportions.
- step 02
Begin with a light wash of blue for the background and the counter.
- step 03
Layer in the darker blues and shadows on the counter to create depth.
- step 04
Paint the figure's skin tones with light washes of yellow and pink, gradually building up the shadows.
- step 05
Add the details of the clothing and facial features.
- step 06
Paint the food items, focusing on their individual colors and textures.
- step 07
Render the samovar with layers of yellow, brown, and gold washes to create a metallic effect.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · Prussian blue · Yellow ochre · Burnt umber
secondary · Cadmium red · Titanium white · Sap green
Mix blues and browns for shadows. Use yellow ochre and a touch of red for skin tones. Create a range of browns by mixing burnt umber with blues and yellows.
techniques
- ·Layering washes
- ·Dry brushing
- ·Color mixing
- ·Creating gradients
- ·Negative painting
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early
- →Using too much water and losing control of the washes
- →Not allowing layers to dry completely before adding more
- →Failing to capture the correct proportions of the figure
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·Watercolor paints
- ·Watercolor paper 140lb
- ·Round brushes (sizes 2, 6, 10)
- ·Palette
- ·Water container
- ·Paper towels
- ·Pencil
optional
- ·Masking fluid
- ·Palette knife
- ·Spray bottle
- ·Ruler
Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve various effects.
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