plate no. 0087
Toledo Street
suitable for beginners
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in sketching perspective and capturing light with watercolor washes. It also encourages simplification and suggestion of detail rather than precise rendering.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and perspective lines of the buildings and street using a pencil.
- step 02
Define the main architectural features, like doors, windows, and rooflines.
- step 03
Apply a light wash of blue to the sky, leaving some areas white for clouds.
- step 04
Mix a light ochre or yellow wash and apply it to the sunlit areas of the buildings.
- step 05
Use diluted brown or burnt sienna to paint the roofs and doors.
- step 06
Add shadows using a diluted gray or Payne's gray, paying attention to the direction of light.
- step 07
Sketch the donkey with light pencil lines and add washes of gray and yellow.
- step 08
Add final details and refine the lines with a pencil or pen.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · white
secondary · gray · black
Mix light grays by diluting black or Payne's gray with water. Create variations of ochre by adding small amounts of burnt sienna or blue.
techniques
- ·watercolor washes
- ·dry brushing
- ·sketching
- ·perspective drawing
- ·value studies
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
- →Making the colors too saturated; keep the washes light and transparent.
- →Ignoring the perspective lines, which can make the buildings look distorted.
- →Not diluting the paints enough, resulting in harsh, uneven washes.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paints
- ·watercolor brushes (round and flat)
- ·watercolor paper (140lb or heavier)
- ·pencil (HB)
- ·eraser
- ·water container
- ·palette
optional
- ·ruler
- ·masking fluid
- ·palette knife
Use a smooth or slightly textured watercolor paper for best results. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying levels of detail.
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