plate no. 8234
Riverbed, Waiau
Rita Angus, 1932
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes: mountains, hills, riverbed, and foreground.
- step 02
Establish the horizon line and major divisions of the landscape.
- step 03
Apply a thin wash of light blue for the sky, allowing it to dry.
- step 04
Paint the distant mountains with a muted reddish-brown, using lighter values for the peaks.
- step 05
Block in the large areas of the riverbed with varying shades of light blue and beige.
- step 06
Add details to the hills and foreground, including trees, buildings, and fences.
- step 07
Refine the details and add shadows to create depth.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights.
color palette
primary · light blue · beige · reddish-brown · yellow ochre
secondary · gray · green
Mix muted tones by combining complementary colors (e.g., blue and orange, red and green). Use white to lighten values and create atmospheric perspective.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·color mixing
- ·dry brushing
- ·flat wash
common pitfalls
- →Overworking details too early
- →Using colors that are too saturated
- →Ignoring the importance of value changes
- →Not establishing a clear focal point
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·Watercolor paper 140lb
- ·Watercolor paints
- ·Round brushes (various sizes)
- ·Flat brush
- ·Palette
- ·Water container
- ·Pencil
- ·Eraser
optional
- ·Masking fluid
- ·Palette knife
- ·Ruler
Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying levels of detail.
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