plate no. 6413

Sulina House III

oilImpressionismcityscapebuildingwindowsroofskytreesdoor

some experience helpful

This painting offers practice in watercolor techniques like layering and wet-on-wet blending to create soft edges and atmospheric perspective. Students will also learn to suggest texture and detail without overworking the painting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the building, windows, and roof.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow ochre to the building, leaving some areas white for highlights.
step 03
Add a darker wash of burnt sienna to the roof, varying the intensity for depth.
step 04
Paint the sky with a diluted blue wash, blending it softly with the building.
step 05
Add details to the windows with greens, blues, and browns, creating shadows and highlights.
step 06
Introduce darker washes of brown and gray to the lower part of the building to create shadows and texture.
step 07
Paint the foliage with varying shades of green, using a loose, impressionistic style.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

secondary · sap green · raw umber · white (for lightening)

Mix yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the building's warm tones. Use ultramarine blue diluted for the sky. Combine sap green and raw umber for the foliage.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·layering washes
·dry brush texture
·color mixing
·suggesting detail

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the watercolor.
→Using too much water and creating muddy colors.
→Not allowing washes to dry completely before adding subsequent layers.
→Making the building too symmetrical and rigid.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·Watercolor paper (140lb cold press)
·Watercolor paints (yellow ochre, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue, sap green, raw umber)
·Round watercolor brushes (sizes 4, 8, 12)
·Water container
·Palette for mixing paints
·Paper towels
·Pencil
·Eraser