plate no. 8587
The Undercliff
Richard Parkes Bonington, 1828
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in watercolor washes, creating atmospheric perspective, and simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes. It also provides practice in capturing light and shadow with a limited palette.
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 main shapes: cliffs, beach, and boats.
- step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow ochre to the cliff face, leaving highlights.
- step 03
Mix a pale purple for the sky and apply a graded wash, darker at the top.
- step 04
Use a mix of blue and purple for the sea, varying the intensity.
- step 05
Add darker washes of brown and purple to the shadows on the beach and cliffs.
- step 06
Paint the boats and figures with small, quick strokes, using darker tones.
- step 07
Add details like waves and highlights with a fine brush.
- step 08
Allow to dry completely and add final touches and adjustments.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson
secondary · burnt umber · white (for lightening)
Mix purple by combining ultramarine blue and alizarin crimson. Vary the intensity of colors by adding water or white.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·dry brush texture
- ·graded washes
- ·layering
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the washes
- →Using too much water
- →Making the colors too saturated
- →Losing the light areas
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paints
- ·watercolor paper 140lb
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brush
- ·water container
- ·palette
- ·paper towels
optional
- ·masking fluid
- ·palette knife
- ·kneaded eraser
Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varied textures.
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