plate no. 4174

Spurge With Yham

Charles Rennie Mackintosh, 1909

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)flower paintingflowersbotanicalplantsstemsleavesvase

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in contour drawing, watercolor washes, and layering translucent colors to achieve depth. It also encourages observation of botanical forms and simplification of complex shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the overall composition, focusing on the shapes and placement of the flowers and leaves.
step 02
Refine the sketch, adding details like the veins in the leaves and the structure of the flower petals.
step 03
Outline the sketch with a fine liner pen or a very thin brush and waterproof ink.
step 04
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow to the yellow flowers, allowing the paper to show through in some areas.
step 05
Add a light wash of green to the leaves and stems, varying the intensity of the green to create depth.
step 06
Paint the purple flower with a diluted purple wash, adding darker tones to create shadows.
step 07
Add details like the dots in the center of the flowers and the lines on the vase.
step 08
Allow to dry completely and erase any visible pencil lines.

color palette

primary · yellow · green · purple · brown

secondary · white · black

Achieve the various shades of green by mixing yellow and blue. Dilute the colors with water to create translucent washes. Use brown and black sparingly for shadows and details.

techniques

·contour drawing
·watercolor wash
·layering
·dry brushing
·pen and ink

common pitfalls

→Overworking the colors and losing the transparency of the washes.
→Making the outlines too heavy and dominant.
→Not capturing the delicate details of the flowers.
→Using colors straight from the tube without diluting them.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·Watercolor paper
·Pencil
·Eraser
·Fine liner pen or waterproof ink
·Watercolor paints (yellow, green, purple, brown, black)
·Round watercolor brushes (small and medium)
·Water container
·Palette for mixing paints

optional

·Masking fluid
·Palette knife
·Ruler

Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Experiment with different brands of watercolor paints to find your preferred colors and consistency.

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