plate no. 0055
The railway bridge in Karlovac
Alfred Krupa, 1989
some experience helpful
This painting is great for practicing watercolor washes and creating depth through layering. Students will also learn how to simplify complex structures like bridges into basic shapes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes: bridge, tree, and horizon line.
- step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow ochre for the field behind the bridge.
- step 03
Paint the sky with a diluted blue and gray wash, leaving some areas white for clouds.
- step 04
Add a light blue wash for the water, varying the intensity for depth.
- step 05
Paint the bridge structure with a mix of dark blue and brown, using a fine brush for details.
- step 06
Add the tree trunk and branches with a darker brown, using dry brush strokes for texture.
- step 07
Add details to the foreground foliage with a mix of browns, reds, and greens.
- step 08
Refine the reflections in the water, mirroring the colors and shapes above.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · yellow ochre
secondary · payne's gray · raw umber
Mix ultramarine blue and burnt sienna to create the dark tones for the bridge and tree. Dilute the colors significantly for the initial washes.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·dry brush texture
- ·layering
- ·watercolor washes
- ·lifting
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details of the bridge.
- →Using too much water, resulting in muddy colors.
- →Not allowing layers to dry completely before adding more details.
- →Making the values too uniform, losing the sense of depth.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paints
- ·watercolor brushes (round and flat)
- ·watercolor paper (140lb)
- ·palette
- ·water container
- ·paper towels
- ·pencil
optional
- ·masking fluid
- ·palette knife
- ·ruler
Use a good quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve various effects.
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