Watercolor Landscape Demonstration step by step

Usually I use to prepare demonstrations of my artworks while painting them and it’s been a long time I was thinking to publish them on my social networks.
So friends, I am sharing one of the old demonstrations I had prepared in 2009.
A simple approach to watercolor and how a painting is done following some steps. I have used some colors, a few layers of applications and it’s done being one of my favourite paintings. During the entire process I just have tried to anticipate how the paint will react, rather than reacting to how it behaves.
A step by step breakdown of the process follows further down the page.

Let’s check out..

STEP 1 :

First a line drawing of the composition is created on 300gsm Fabriano paper using an “HB” pencil. I use a light and loose basic  pencil sketch as my guide describing the main elements of the painting.

STEP 2 :

Normally I start with painting the sky first. So, holding the board at 25¤ degree angle, the sky is washed down with cobalt blue light- french ultramarine-cadmium orange mix. The wash should be applied quickly on wet-on-wet condition using a large brush.

STEP 3 :

While the background is dried little, the color for the tree line is added. It is produced by mixing ultramarine blue-crimson lake-burnt sienna hue. The color will bleed into the background, while defining it with the same brush.

STEP 4 :

Within few minutes an all over soft tonal contrast is created. It is because I have tried to give it a foggy morning atmosphere. I am  still working on wet-on-wet technique. Then I make some quick strokes to shape out the tram and wet road in a spontaneous way  using more dark pigments. While doing, spray of clean water should be done to maintain the surface.  Now it’s time for a break as I will let the painting dries completely.

STEP 5 :

In the next step I prepare a mixture of ultramarine blue-cadmium orange-paynes grey and cobalt turquoise. I define the left front tree  through the dark color pigment. Here I am also using a tissue paper as I want to create some extraordinary effects on the tree.

STEP 6 :

Progressively, darker shapes and lines are added to build up perspective and the detail of major elements of the painting.

STEP 7 :

Finally, here comes the finishing touch: more soft tonal contrast on human figures, their reflections, tree and roads, while I end up using strong contrast for wires, trams, tram lines, some twigs and tree leaves etc. I have named the painting ‘Early Morning. in Kolkata’ Size: 22×30 inches, Medium: Watercolour on 300gsm Fabriano paper, Year: 2009.

It is one of my favourite paintings as I have said before.
Thanks for your time!
Hope you have enjoyed and don’t forget to share your worthy suggestions.

Watercolorist Ananta Mandal