plate no. 6664
Sunflowers
Janos Mattis-Teutsch, 1910
suitable for beginners
This painting offers a great opportunity to practice simplified forms and color blocking. Students will develop skills in creating depth through color and line variation.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the sunflowers, stems, and landscape.
- step 02
Block in the sky with light blue, using horizontal brushstrokes.
- step 03
Fill in the fields with alternating bands of yellow, green, and ochre.
- step 04
Paint the sunflower heads with yellow and a touch of pink in the center.
- step 05
Add the stems with a mix of blue and green.
- step 06
Define the edges of the landscape with darker shades of green and blue.
- step 07
Add final details to the sunflower heads and stems.
- step 08
Review and adjust colors as needed to match the original painting.
color palette
primary · yellow · light blue · green
secondary · ochre · pink · dark blue
Mix light blue with white for the sky. Combine blue and yellow to create various shades of green. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.
techniques
- ·color blocking
- ·simplified forms
- ·horizontal brushstrokes
- ·layering
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending colors, losing the distinct bands of color.
- →Making the sunflowers too detailed.
- →Using too much dark color early on.
- →Not simplifying the forms enough.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paper 140lb
- ·watercolor paints
- ·#6 round brush
- ·#10 flat brush
- ·palette
- ·water container
- ·paper towels
optional
- ·masking tape
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·ruler
Use good quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve the desired brushstroke effect.
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