plate no. 9469
Simpkin Hears the Mice
Beatrix Potter, 1902
suitable for beginners
This painting is great for practicing loose watercolor washes and confident ink line work. Students can learn to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and values.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 7 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes of the buildings and chimneys, paying attention to perspective.
- step 02
Apply a very diluted warm brown wash to the sky and ground, letting it dry.
- step 03
Add a slightly darker wash to the buildings, varying the intensity for depth.
- step 04
Use a fine brush to add details like windows and architectural elements with a slightly darker brown.
- step 05
Outline the buildings and details with black ink, varying the line thickness for emphasis.
- step 06
Add the figure of the cat with black ink.
- step 07
Add final touches of color to the chimneys and other areas as needed.
color palette
primary · burnt sienna · raw umber · black
secondary · light pink
Mix burnt sienna with varying amounts of water for different values. Add a touch of pink to the brown for warmer tones.
techniques
- ·watercolor washes
- ·ink outlining
- ·dry brushing
- ·simplification of form
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the washes
- →Using too much water
- →Making the ink lines too uniform
- →Losing the loose, sketch-like quality
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paper
- ·watercolor paints (burnt sienna, raw umber, black)
- ·fine liner brush
- ·round brush #4
- ·pencil
optional
- ·palette
- ·water container
- ·paper towels
- ·ruler
Use a light hand when sketching to avoid visible pencil lines under the watercolor. Experiment with different dilutions of the watercolor to achieve a range of values.
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