plate no. 6748

Venetian Palace, Blackshore on the Blyth

Charles Rennie Mackintosh, 1914

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)cityscapebuildingswaterboatsskyarchitectureharbor

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in watercolor washes, architectural rendering, and capturing reflections in water. It also encourages simplification of complex scenes into basic shapes and values.

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: buildings, boats, and horizon line.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted blue/gray for the sky and water.
step 03
Paint the larger building with a very light wash of white/gray, leaving some areas unpainted for highlights.
step 04
Add darker blue washes to define shadows and architectural details on the buildings.
step 05
Paint the dark building on the left with a dark gray/black wash.
step 06
Add details to the boats and reflections in the water using darker grays and blues.
step 07
Define edges and add finer details with a smaller brush and more concentrated paint.
step 08
Let each layer dry before adding the next to avoid muddying the colors.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · raw umber

Mix ultramarine blue with ivory black to create various shades of gray and blue-gray for the sky, water, and shadows. Use burnt sienna and raw umber sparingly for warmer tones in the buildings and reflections.

techniques

·watercolor washes
·dry brush
·layering
·negative painting
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the washes and creating muddy colors.
→Making the dark areas too uniform and losing detail.
→Not allowing layers to dry completely before adding more.
→Failing to simplify the architectural details.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

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

optional

·masking fluid
·ruler
·palette knife

Use good quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling and allow for multiple washes. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying levels of detail.

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