plate no. 1236
St. John's River, Florida
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in watercolor layering and capturing reflections in water. It also provides practice in creating atmospheric perspective and depicting complex organic shapes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: horizon line, trees, and water.
- step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted blues and pinks for the sky and distant background.
- step 03
Paint the water with horizontal washes of blues, greens, and browns, leaving some areas white for highlights.
- step 04
Add darker values to the water to create reflections of the trees and foliage.
- step 05
Paint the trees and foliage with loose, expressive brushstrokes, using a variety of greens, browns, and yellows.
- step 06
Add details to the trees, such as the Spanish moss, using a fine brush.
- step 07
Refine the reflections in the water, paying attention to the shapes and values.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · yellow ochre
secondary · sap green · alizarin crimson
Mix blues and browns for the water and reflections. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the trees and foliage. Add small amounts of alizarin crimson to create warmer tones.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·dry brush texture
- ·watercolor layering
- ·creating reflections
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality.
- →Making the reflections too symmetrical or uniform.
- →Using too much water and causing the colors to bleed uncontrollably.
- →Not allowing each layer to dry completely before applying the next.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paints
- ·watercolor brushes (round and flat)
- ·watercolor paper (140lb)
- ·palette
- ·water container
- ·paper towels
- ·masking tape
- ·sketching pencil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·masking fluid
- ·spray bottle
Use high-quality watercolor paints and paper for best results. Experiment with different brush sizes and techniques to achieve the desired effect.
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