plate no. 5944

View on the waterfront Oosterdok in winter, Amsterdam city

Paul Werner, 2005

gouache, watercolor, paperExpressionismcityscapecityscapewaterboatsbuildingsskycranes

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork, color mixing for atmospheric perspective, and simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes. It's also a good exercise in capturing reflections in water.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: buildings, water, boats, and cranes.
step 02
Block in the sky with a diluted grey-brown mixture.
step 03
Establish the main water area with a base of teal, adding darker tones towards the bottom and lighter reflections near the horizon.
step 04
Paint the buildings using ochre, brown, and grey, focusing on the overall shapes rather than details.
step 05
Add the boats with quick, expressive strokes of blue, white, and brown.
step 06
Indicate the cranes with yellow and blue, keeping the lines loose and gestural.
step 07
Add final details like reflections, figures, and masts with small, confident strokes.
step 08
Adjust values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · teal · grey · ochre · brown

secondary · blue · white · yellow · red

Achieve the teal water color by mixing blue and green with a touch of brown. The grey sky is a mix of white, brown, and a hint of blue. Use white to lighten colors and create reflections.

techniques

·loose brushwork
·color layering
·wet-on-dry blending
·simplification
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details, losing the loose, expressive feel.
→Making the colors too saturated, resulting in a less atmospheric effect.
→Not simplifying the shapes enough, leading to a cluttered composition.
→Ignoring the reflections in the water, which are crucial for the overall effect.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

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

optional

·palette knife
·masking fluid
·kneaded eraser

Using heavier paper will prevent buckling when applying wet washes. Gouache and watercolor work well together, allowing for both opaque and transparent layers.

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