Watercolour Painting

Lesson 2: PAINTING OUTDOORS

FUN PROJECT

Click to enlarge.

Here we have an Alla Prima exercise.(painted in one session). As I strolled along the rocks, I stopped to view the scene across the water. I half-closed my eyes, and I knew I just had to record it. The sketchpad I had was fine paper and just ideal.

Step 1. I left the paper dry and did not even sketch the subject; but started into painting it straight away.

Step 2. Blue/Green was painted into the background hills; while Light Green was washed in for the bushy, hilly area.; leaving some white paper to show through.

Step 3. Yellow Ochre was used form the sandy areas.

Step 4. The suggestion of the tree foliage was painted in Green, with the brush slightly flattened.

Step 5. Brown was then painted into the shadows of the trees and bushy areas.

Note: Keep in mind your painting will look very ‘blobby’ at this stage, but you have the finished picture in mind; haven’t you?

Step 6. Green/Blue was washed in for the water.

Note: It is important to leave some white of the paper to show through.

Step 7. Red/Brown is painted in and then a heavier application of Blue/Green for the deeper tones of the water; also some darker tones of Burnt Sienna into some rocks. A tiny touch of Green is painted into the foreground water.

Step 8. Now the fun part! Black pen work is sketched into and around these coloured shapes to emphasise the subject.

Note: This pen work must be fairly controlled so your painting returns a professional, artistic look. Some cross-hatching is introduced in the background and also the in the rocks of the foreground. Some birds in flight create interest.

This type of project can be used as reference for you to work from and paint a more impressive painting, or it can stand alone as a finished picture.

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Next time you are on the rocks, have fun with pen work!

Let's move on to heavy impact!

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