plate no. 7024
Susquehanna near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering washes and creating realistic reflections. It will also improve their understanding of atmospheric perspective and color mixing for natural landscapes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: islands, shoreline, and boats.
- step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted blue and grey for the sky, allowing it to dry.
- step 03
Paint the distant hills with a muted green-grey wash.
- step 04
Apply a base wash of green and brown for the islands, varying the tones.
- step 05
Paint the water with horizontal strokes of blue, green, and grey, creating subtle variations.
- step 06
Add reflections of the islands and sky in the water, using slightly darker and more muted colors.
- step 07
Paint the rocks in the foreground with browns, greys, and whites, adding texture with dry brush strokes.
- step 08
Add details to the boats and trees with finer brushes.
color palette
primary · cerulean blue · raw umber · sap green
secondary · burnt sienna · titanium white · payne's gray
Mix blues and browns for the sky and water. Use greens, browns, and yellows for the foliage. Muted tones are achieved by mixing complementary colors.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·dry brush texture
- ·layering washes
- ·creating reflections
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details in the trees, losing the overall impression.
- →Making the reflections too bright or too dark.
- →Using colors that are too saturated, resulting in an unnatural look.
- →Not allowing washes to dry completely before adding subsequent layers.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paper 140lb
- ·watercolor paints
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 6, 10)
- ·flat brush (size 1/2 inch)
- ·water container
- ·palette
- ·masking tape
- ·sketching pencil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·watercolor pencils
- ·kneaded eraser
Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying levels of detail.
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