plate no. 4337

Two Pipers from the Abruzzi in Rome

pen, ink, watercolor, chalk, paperRomanticismgenre paintingfiguresarchitecturebuildingsinstrumentsstreet scenelamp

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in watercolor washes and figure drawing, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective and creating depth with limited color palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and figures, paying attention to proportions and perspective.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted grey watercolor to the background buildings and walls.
step 03
Add darker washes to create shadows and define the architectural details.
step 04
Paint the figures, starting with light washes for skin tones and clothing.
step 05
Layer colors to build up depth and create the folds in the clothing.
step 06
Add details to the instruments and facial features using a fine brush and ink.
step 07
Paint the lamp with a warm yellow and red, and add the shadow it casts.
step 08
Refine the details and add final touches to the shadows and highlights.

color palette

primary · payne's gray · raw umber · burnt sienna

secondary · cerulean blue · cadmium yellow light · alizarin crimson

Mix Payne's Gray with Raw Umber to achieve various shades of grey for the buildings. Use Burnt Sienna and Alizarin Crimson for the skin tones and clothing. Mix Cerulean Blue with white for the cloaks.

techniques

·watercolor washes
·dry brushing
·figure drawing
·ink linework
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the washes and losing the transparency of the watercolor.
→Not paying attention to proportions when drawing the figures.
→Using too much water and causing the colors to bleed.
→Making the shadows too dark and losing the subtle gradations.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·watercolor paints
·watercolor brushes (round and flat)
·watercolor paper (140lb)
·palette
·water container
·pencil
·eraser
·fine liner pen

optional

·masking fluid
·ruler
·kneaded eraser

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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