plate no. 4577
THE BARRISTER
some experience helpful
This painting helps students practice watercolor techniques like layering and blending to create soft textures and gradients. It also encourages careful observation of animal anatomy and expressive features.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the cat's head, body, and wig, paying attention to proportions.
- step 02
Apply a light wash of blue for the background, allowing it to dry completely.
- step 03
Begin layering washes of brown and orange for the cat's fur, building up depth and texture.
- step 04
Paint the wig with diluted grey, adding subtle shadows to define the curls.
- step 05
Use a darker grey to paint the robe, creating folds and shadows.
- step 06
Add details to the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, using small brushes.
- step 07
Paint the paws with browns and pinks, adding details like claws and pads.
- step 08
Refine the details and add any final touches, such as whiskers and highlights.
color palette
primary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · raw umber · titanium white
secondary · cadmium orange · alizarin crimson · sap green
Mix browns and oranges for the cat's fur, using varying amounts of water to control the intensity. Dilute the blues and greys for the background and robe to create soft washes.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·dry brush texture
- ·layering washes
- ·glazing
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the washes, leading to muddy colors.
- →Not allowing layers to dry completely before adding more.
- →Using too much water, causing the paint to run.
- →Ignoring the importance of value contrast.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·Watercolor paints (various browns, oranges, blues, greys)
- ·Watercolor brushes (round and flat, various sizes)
- ·Watercolor paper (140lb or heavier)
- ·Palette for mixing paints
- ·Water container
- ·Paper towels
- ·Pencil
- ·Eraser
optional
- ·Masking fluid
- ·Palette knife
- ·Spray bottle
Use high-quality watercolor paints for best results. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying levels of detail.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
