plate no. 7801
Trees in a Park
Thomas Girtin, 1800
suitable for beginners
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in tonal values and creating depth using a limited palette. Students will also learn to simplify complex forms like trees into basic shapes and values.
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 of the trees and the horizon line.
- step 02
Establish the darkest values in the tree trunks and shadows using a diluted dark grey.
- step 03
Begin layering lighter washes of grey and green to define the foliage and ground.
- step 04
Use a slightly drier brush to create texture in the tree bark and leaves.
- step 05
Add subtle variations in tone to suggest depth and form within the foliage.
- step 06
Soften edges and blend areas to create a sense of atmosphere.
- step 07
Add the small figures on the horizon line.
- step 08
Refine details and adjust values as needed to achieve the desired effect.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre
Mix ivory black and titanium white for various shades of grey. Add a touch of raw umber to warm the grey tones. Use yellow ochre for the ground.
techniques
- ·value studies
- ·dry brushing
- ·layering washes
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·blending
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details
- →creating too much contrast
- →using too much water
- →making the values too uniform
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paper 140lb
- ·watercolor paints
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 round brush
- ·water container
- ·palette
- ·paper towels
optional
- ·masking fluid
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·ruler
Use good quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying levels of detail.
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