plate no. 1598

Watercolor, landscape of Montgo mountain

Rubén de Luis, 2022

watercolorImpressionismlandscapemountainwaterskybuildingstreeslandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering watercolor washes and creating texture with dry brush techniques. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.

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: mountain, coastline, and water.
step 02
Apply a light wash of blue for the sky, leaving some areas unpainted for clouds.
step 03
Paint the mountain with a diluted ochre/brown wash, adding darker values for shadows.
step 04
Add the green foliage along the coastline with short, broken brushstrokes.
step 05
Paint the buildings with a mix of ochre and white, keeping the details minimal.
step 06
Apply a base layer of blue for the water, varying the tones to suggest depth.
step 07
Add darker blues and greens to the water to create texture and waves.
step 08
Refine details and add highlights with a fine brush.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · raw umber · yellow ochre

secondary · sap green · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

Mix cerulean and ultramarine blue for the sky and water. Use raw umber and yellow ochre for the mountain, adding burnt sienna for shadows. Mix sap green with a touch of blue for the foliage.

techniques