plate no. 9323

The tomb of George Washington

watercolor, paperRomanticismlandscapetreeslandscapearchitecturehillfoliagesky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering watercolor washes to create depth and atmosphere, as well as practicing loose, expressive brushstrokes for foliage and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main elements: the hill, the tomb, the trees, and the horizon line.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow ochre or raw sienna to the entire paper as a base tone.
step 03
Begin layering washes of diluted blues and greens for the sky and distant trees, working from light to dark.
step 04
Add washes of browns and greens to the hill, building up the shadows and textures.
step 05
Paint the tomb using a mix of browns and grays, paying attention to the brickwork and the door.
step 06
Add details to the trees using a small brush and varying shades of green and brown.
step 07
Use dry brush technique to add texture to the foliage and ground.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · Prussian blue · burnt umber

secondary · sap green · raw sienna

Mix Prussian blue with yellow ochre to create various shades of green. Use burnt umber and yellow ochre for earth tones. Dilute colors with water for lighter washes.

techniques