Sleepy Hollow: Seasonal Palette - Part II

Sleepy Hollow

Watercolor 9" x 12" Mats to 14" x 16"

Seasonal Palette - Part II

Last week I discussed the autumn seasonal palette and displayed a painting that used "traditional" colors associated with autumn.  I used the same seasonal palette to paint my watercolor above, Sleepy Hollow.  Titled so--- because I think one could see a headless horseman ride by any moment!  :) 

See my watercolor tip from last week:

Watercolor Tip:

Color sets the mood for the painting! This is true no matter what season or subject matter. Remember this when selecting the colors used in your painting.

Color definitely set the dark and somber mood for this painting.  However, I still used colors from my seasonal palette: 

• Sepia
• Paynes' Gray
• Cadmium Yellow
• Cadmium Red
• Burnt Sienna
• Sap Green
• Phthalo Blue

I created the sky first in this painting.....using very little blue and mostly gray with a drop of yellow and burnt sienna.  I wanted the sky to look dark and foreboding, not clear, bright and cheery as the one last week. 

After the sky dried, I put in the distant hills and the large, dark mass of trees/hedges.  The trees were painted using mostly gray and sepia.  I misted the trees with a light spray of water to help the trees blend into the sky.

The grasses were laid in next using clean water first and then dropping in a weak wash of gray also dropping in a weak wash of yellow and orange.  The orange was mixed from my red and yellow.  After this wash dries, dry brush in some grasses with a foliage brush.

The pumpkins were painted last.  

Watercolor tip:
Leave the pumpkins mostly white dropping in only light washes of yellow and orange.  This will make the pumpkins look as though they are washed in moonlight!

Happy Fall and Happy Painting!
Karen