plate no. 0732
Stonington Maine
John Marin, 1923
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using watercolor washes to create depth and atmosphere. It also encourages experimentation with expressive line work and color choices.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings and landscape with charcoal.
- step 02
Outline the composition with a thin brush and a neutral color like burnt umber.
- step 03
Apply a light wash of blue for the sky, leaving some areas white.
- step 04
Add washes of color to the buildings, varying the hues and intensities.
- step 05
Paint the water with horizontal strokes, using a mix of blues, browns, and yellows.
- step 06
Add details to the buildings and landscape with a fine brush.
- step 07
Reinforce the outlines and add expressive lines to create movement and energy.
- step 08
Add the border around the painting with thin washes of color.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · yellow ochre
secondary · raw sienna · cadmium red light · viridian
Mix blues and browns for the darker areas of the buildings and water. Use yellow ochre and raw sienna for the lighter areas of the buildings and landscape. Add small amounts of red and green for accents.
techniques
- ·watercolor washes
- ·dry brush
- ·expressive linework
- ·color layering
- ·simplification of form
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the washes, resulting in muddy colors.
- →Making the lines too uniform and losing the expressive quality.
- →Failing to simplify the shapes and getting bogged down in details.
- →Not leaving enough white space to create contrast and light.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paints
- ·watercolor paper 140lb
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 6, 10)
- ·charcoal pencil
- ·palette
- ·water container
- ·paper towels
optional
- ·masking fluid
- ·ruler
- ·kneaded eraser
Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying line weights and textures.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
