plate no. 0184
The Nehaj Tower in Kaštel Štafilić
Alfred Freddy Krupa, 1997
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in watercolor washes and layering to create depth and form. It also provides practice in capturing light and shadow using a limited color palette.
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 tower, horizon line, and tree.
- step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted blue for the sky, allowing it to blend with a touch of pink near the horizon.
- step 03
Paint the distant mountains with a muted blue-gray wash.
- step 04
Apply a light blue wash to the sea, varying the intensity to suggest depth.
- step 05
Begin layering washes on the tower, using a mix of blues, grays, and a touch of green to create shadows and form.
- step 06
Add details to the tree using darker greens and browns, suggesting foliage with loose brushstrokes.
- step 07
Paint the foreground with a mix of blues, purples, and browns to represent the ground and shadows.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to the tower and foreground to enhance the sense of light and form.
color palette
primary · cerulean blue · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna
secondary · sap green · purple · raw umber
Mix blues with burnt sienna to create grays for the tower shadows. Use diluted washes for the sky and sea. Add a touch of green to the blue mix for the tower's greenish tint.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·layering washes
- ·dry brush texture
- ·color mixing
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the washes and losing the transparency of the watercolor.
- →Using too much water and causing the colors to bleed uncontrollably.
- →Making the tower too uniform in color and losing the sense of light and shadow.
- →Not allowing washes to dry completely before applying subsequent layers.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paints
- ·watercolor paper (140lb cold press)
- ·round watercolor brushes (sizes #4, #8, #12)
- ·palette
- ·water container
- ·masking tape
- ·kneaded eraser
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·watercolor pencils
- ·ruler
Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling and ensure good color absorption. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varied textures and details.
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