plate no. 4878

Two birches in autumn en plein air

Alfred Freddy Krupa, 1995

watercolorPost-Impressionismlandscapetreesbirchlandscapeskygrassfoliage

suitable for beginners

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering watercolor washes and creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective. It will also teach them how to depict tree bark texture and foliage with simple brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 4 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, including the trees, horizon line, and major landscape elements.
step 02
Apply a very light wash of blue for the sky, allowing it to fade towards the horizon.
step 03
Create a light green wash for the grass and background foliage, varying the tones slightly.
step 04
Paint the tree trunks with a light gray wash, leaving some areas white to suggest highlights.
step 05
Add the dark markings on the birch trees using a darker gray or black, paying attention to their shapes and placement.
step 06
Layer in darker greens and browns in the grass and foliage to create depth and texture.
step 07
Add details to the foliage with small, individual brushstrokes of green, yellow, and brown.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values as needed to create a cohesive and atmospheric painting.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · sap green · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre

Mix greens by combining blue and yellow. Achieve grays by mixing complementary colors or black and white. Use diluted washes for lighter tones.

techniques

·wet-on-dry
·layering
·dry brush
·blending
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the washes, leading to muddy colors.
→Making the tree trunks too uniform and lacking in texture.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value in the landscape.
→Using too much water, causing the paint to bleed uncontrollably.

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
·kneaded eraser
·ruler

Use good quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling and allow for better blending. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve various effects.

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