plate no. 1437
«Royal castle»
Ludwiga Nesterovich, 2014
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the castle and surrounding elements.
- step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted red/pink to the castle structure, allowing it to dry.
- step 03
Add layers of darker red/pink to create shadows and define architectural details.
- step 04
Paint the sky with a diluted blue, using a stippling technique for a textured effect.
- step 05
Add details to the windows and towers with green and yellow.
- step 06
Paint the figures in the foreground with dark blue and green, keeping them simple and abstract.
- step 07
Use a dry brush technique with white to add highlights and texture to the building and sky.
- step 08
Add final details and touch-ups as needed.
color palette
primary · red · blue · white
secondary · green · yellow · grey
Mix red with white for lighter shades of the building. Use a touch of blue to create shadows. Mix blue and yellow for the greens of the towers.
techniques
- ·watercolor washes
- ·dry brush texture
- ·stippling
- ·layering
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, painterly feel.
- →Using too much water, which can cause the colors to bleed.
- →Not allowing layers to dry completely before adding more paint.
- →Making the figures too detailed, which can distract from the main subject.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·Watercolor paints
- ·Watercolor brushes (round and flat)
- ·Watercolor paper (140lb)
- ·Palette
- ·Water container
- ·Pencil
- ·Eraser
- ·Paper towels
optional
- ·Masking fluid
- ·Palette knife
- ·Ruler
Use good quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve various textures.
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