plate no. 6748
Venetian Palace, Blackshore on the Blyth
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 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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