The Artist - UK (2021-03)

http://www.painters-online.co.uk artistMarch 2021 27

PRACTICAL

DEMONSTRATION Old Prague from Above

This unusual view of Prague was the basis for a painting

using the light to dark approach.

p STAGE ONE

Having lightly sketched the scene with a 2B pencil I

applied an overall wash. At this stage the first negative

shapes needed to be preserved around the right edge

of the tower. This pale under wash was also going to

provide the sunlit areas that would remain untouched

throughout the rest of the painting

t STAGE TWO

When Stage One was dry, I applied a fairy dark wash

to create the shadow on the road and also in some of

the rooflines, while pale shapes were added to denote

the bottom of the buildings on the left-hand side. The

main feature, the tower, was also handled with rich

mixes of cobalt turquoise light and Winsor green with

violet added where the colour became very dark. Here

the negative highlights on the right of the tower are

equally as important as the spire

u FINISHED PAINTING

Old Prague from Above,

watercolour on Arches Rough

140lb (300gsm), 121/2 3 181/2in

(47 3 32cm).

Last to be painted were the bits

of detail, windows and figures on

the ground. It was important not

to make too much of these as the

picture is really about the aerial

perspective and the prominent

tower. To keep viewers’ attention

at the tower I used a clean damp

sponge to rub away and soften the

colour on the right-hand roof tops

MATERIALS

l Arches Rough watercolour paper 140lb (300gsm),

stretched.

l Luxartis round pointed kolinsky sables Nos. 16 and 8.

l Pro Arte squirrel mop No.8.

l Watercolours: French ultramarine, cobalt blue, Winsor

violet, Winsor green (blue shade), cobalt turquoise

light, raw sienna, crimson alizarin, cadmium orange,

light red, warm sepia.