plate no. 5793
Squirrel Nutkin
Beatrix Potter, 1903
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering washes and creating soft, delicate details. It also provides practice in capturing the texture of fur and foliage with watercolor techniques.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the squirrel, branches, and surrounding foliage.
- step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow ochre and burnt sienna to the background to create a warm undertone.
- step 03
Begin layering washes of color on the squirrel, starting with the lightest areas and gradually building up to the darker tones.
- step 04
Use a small brush to add details to the squirrel's fur, eyes, and paws.
- step 05
Paint the branches using a mix of burnt umber and raw sienna, adding texture with dry brush strokes.
- step 06
Add the foliage around the squirrel, using a variety of greens, yellows, and browns.
- step 07
Use a fine-tipped brush to add delicate details to the leaves and branches.
- step 08
Allow the painting to dry completely and then add any final touches or corrections.
color palette
primary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · raw umber
secondary · sap green · payne's gray
Achieve the squirrel's fur color by layering burnt sienna with touches of raw umber and yellow ochre. Mix greens for the foliage by combining yellow ochre and sap green.
techniques
- ·watercolor washes
- ·dry brush
- ·layering
- ·glazing
- ·fine detail work
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the soft, delicate quality of the original.
- →Using too much water and creating muddy colors.
- →Not allowing each layer to dry completely before adding the next.
- →Making the squirrel too dark or saturated.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paints
- ·watercolor paper (140lb)
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·water container
- ·palette
- ·pencil
- ·eraser
optional
- ·masking fluid
- ·palette knife
- ·kneaded eraser
Use high-quality watercolor paints for best results. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying levels of detail.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
