plate no. 3753
The berry pickers
Winslow Homer, 1873
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in watercolor washes and capturing light and shadow to create depth. It also provides practice in depicting figures in a landscape setting with loose, expressive brushstrokes.
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 main shapes and figures, paying attention to their placement and proportions.
- step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted blue for the sky, leaving some areas white for clouds.
- step 03
Paint the distant hills with a diluted gray-blue wash.
- step 04
Begin layering washes of browns, greens, and yellows for the foliage, building up depth and texture.
- step 05
Paint the figures with light washes of skin tones and clothing colors, adding shadows to define their forms.
- step 06
Add details to the foliage and figures with smaller brushes and darker values.
- step 07
Use dry brush techniques to create texture in the rocks and foliage.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall sense of light and depth.
color palette
primary · cerulean blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna
secondary · raw umber · alizarin crimson · sap green
Mix blues with browns to create muted grays for the sky and distant hills. Combine yellows and browns for the foliage, and add touches of red for warmth. Use plenty of water to achieve transparent washes.
techniques
- ·watercolor washes
- ·dry brush
- ·layering
- ·wet-on-dry
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the watercolor.
- →Using too much paint and creating muddy colors.
- →Not paying attention to the values and creating a flat image.
- →Getting the proportions of the figures wrong.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paints
- ·watercolor brushes (round and flat)
- ·watercolor paper (140lb)
- ·palette
- ·water container
- ·masking tape
- ·pencil
- ·kneaded eraser
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·watercolor pencils
- ·ruler
Use high-quality watercolor paints and paper for best results. Experiment with different brush sizes and techniques to achieve the desired effects.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
