plate no. 2822

The Castle of San Lorenzo in Ragusa

watercolor, paperRomanticismlandscapecastlebuildingslandscapeskyrocksfigures

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand atmospheric perspective and how to simplify complex architectural forms using watercolor washes. It also provides practice in rendering textures of stone and foliage with varying degrees of detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the castle, the buildings, the rocks, and the horizon line.
step 02
Establish the sky with a diluted blue wash, leaving some areas white for clouds.
step 03
Apply a light wash of ochre and burnt sienna to the foreground and the rocks, establishing the base tones.
step 04
Layer darker washes of brown and gray to define the shadows and details of the castle and buildings.
step 05
Use a dry brush technique to add texture to the rocks and foliage.
step 06
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and roofs, using a fine brush.
step 07
Paint the figures in the foreground with minimal detail.
step 08
Refine the overall composition by adjusting values and adding highlights.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · yellow ochre

secondary · raw umber · payne's gray · cadmium red

Mix ultramarine blue with a touch of burnt sienna to create the sky color. Vary the intensity of the browns by adjusting the ratio of burnt sienna and raw umber. Use cadmium red sparingly for the flag and roof accents.

techniques