The Hudson River from Constitution Marsh

A Step-by-Step Watercolor Painting Demonstration

The main subject in the demonstration are the layers of successive washes from the distant mountains to the foreground marsh.

This is a studio painting using a photograph for reference. This exercise will test skills at painting smooth graded washes and controlling the values as the composition moves forward in space. Remember, in watercolor, to paint light to dark, thin to thick. Initial washes should be as thin as tea, and gradually become milky-thick, then creamy, with final detail strokes having only enough water to make them flow off the brush.

My reference photograph of the Hudson River from Constitution Marsh, taken by me for this purpose. Never work from someone else’s photo.