Last week I rediscovered a landscape sketching video I must have made last year and totally forgot about. I remember the scene though, I took the photo I painted from later very early on a summer day, with morning mist still densely on the fields, and the sun just about to peek through. It was calm and the business and hectic of the nearby city felt far away. This place is actually where I’ve encountered a lot of wild animals – hares, herons, storks, of course the inevitable raccoons and a shy fox or two. These summer mornings have the most beautiful light, and I remember stopping, taking a photo and thinking that I’d like to explore what this scene looks like in paint. Often that’s my main motivation to do a landscape sketch: to see out what something looks like when it’s painted.
I had no sketching equipment with me, since I was on my way to my community garden. Or on the way back? I can’t remember. I usually went there the first thing in the day to clear my head and get the gardening done while it’s still cool. No sketching gear everywhere I go – a crude oversight?! Yes, I often forget my gear and then regret it. Last year I often tried to take at least a mini kit with me everywhere (a pencil and a small sketchbook).
This landscape sketch actually turned out quite nice, and I used a limited palette for it. I remember thinking that I need to share with you how interesting it can be to use just a mini palette with a few limited colors, and how this can make a sketch more cohesive. So I’m doing this now – it’s a great way to explore color. I’d actually like to share more about putting together these limited palettes, but this week will be about the landscape sketch.
So let’s take a trip into 2021, back when we thought that a world-wide pandemic was the only thing to worry about.
Here’s the video:
Morning landscape with a limited palette | watercolor landscape sketching
The colors that I used for this palette:
- Schmincke Transparent Yellow (PY150)
- Schmincke Permanent Red (PR242 PO62)
- Ultramarine Blue (PB29)
- Perylene Green (PBk31)
- Winsor&Newton Brown Ochre (PBR7)
I’ll share a bit more next time about how to put together limited palettes like this!
Julia, I enjoyed reading your story of how you came to paint this scene. You’ve really captured the morning mist, it’s so atmospheric. Now I’m off to watch the video. Btw, I’ve been watching your terrific Sketching Fundamentals class and as I go through my day, I watch a lesson or two at a time. It’s perfect timing for me as spring has arrived here in Maryland, USA and I’ve started sketching in my nature journal again. Have a nice day!
Thank you so much Jill, I’m happy to hear you enjoy the class so much. I hadn’t even thought about the timing, but you’re right – I definitely find my motivation for sketching renewed too as nature comes to life again!
This is a beautiful little scene…..thanks.
Thank you Janey!
I love your simple palette and how many varied colors you made with it. This video inspires me to make a landscape drawing! thank you
Enjoy the painting process, Katrina! 🙂
Lovely! This is just what I needed. A good balance of instructional detail also. Please do more with limited palettes. Learning to mix colours is a must to moving forward.
Thank you Jane! I will try to create more landscape sketches like this, using a limited palette is really good practice for me too.