plate no. 7402

View on KNSM island in Amsterdam city

Paul Werner, 1992

gouache, watercolor, paperExpressionismcityscapebuildingstreescranescityscapewatersky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork and capturing the essence of a scene rather than precise details. It also encourages experimentation with color mixing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, trees, and cranes using a pencil.
step 02
Apply a thin wash of diluted blue and grey for the sky, allowing it to blend and create soft clouds.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the buildings using a mix of browns, blues, and yellows.
step 04
Use quick, loose brushstrokes to represent the trees, varying the greens and blues for depth.
step 05
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and roof lines, using darker blues and browns.
step 06
Paint the cranes with ochre and brown, keeping the lines simple and expressive.
step 07
Create the foreground with washes of brown and grey, suggesting the water and reflections.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights with white and light yellows to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Burnt umber · Yellow ochre

secondary · Titanium white · Sap green · Payne's grey

Mix blues and browns for the building shadows, greens and blues for the trees, and white with other colors to create highlights and atmospheric effects.

techniques

·Wet-on-wet blending
·Dry brush texture
·Layering washes
·Expressive brushstrokes
·Color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive style.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing, resulting in a flat and uninteresting palette.
→Not allowing washes to dry properly, leading to muddy colors.
→Failing to establish a clear focal point.

materials

surface · Watercolor paper 140lb

required

·Gouache paints
·Watercolor paints
·Watercolor paper (140lb or heavier)
·Round brushes (various sizes)
·Flat brushes (various sizes)
·Palette
·Water container
·Paper towels

optional

·Palette knife
·Masking tape
·Easel

Use good quality gouache and watercolor paints for best results. Experiment with different brush sizes and types to achieve various textures and effects.

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