Painting a Mediterranean cityscape in watercolor with Irina Khist

Painting a Mediterranean cityscape in watercolor with Irina Khist

In this tutorial, Irina Khist demonstrates how to paint a sunny Mediterranean cityscape in watercolors using ArtistAssistApp. Irina Khist is a watercolor artist and the person who inspired and supported the development of ArtistAssistApp.

Mediterranean cityscapes are famous for their sense of light and atmosphere. The Mediterranean sun and old architecture create unrivaled cityscapes. ArtistAssistApp will help to depict this unique atmosphere.

Sunny Mediterranean cityscape painting

Getting started with ArtistAssistApp

Open ArtistAssistApp.com in your web browser and press the "Start now" button.

Select colors from whatever brand you have on hand.

Creating a color set in ArtistAssistApp

Import a reference photo.

Drawing perfect outline

On the "Grid" tab see your image with the grid over it, and then draw that grid on your paper. It will help you get your correct proportions.

Drawing with the grid method (4x4) using ArtistAssistApp

Don't want to draw? On the "Outline" tab print an outline of your photo and trace it on paper.

Converting a photo into an outline in ArtistAssistApp

Do you want to trace a photo that is larger than the standard printer paper size? ArtistAssistApp enables you to print a large image onto multiple pages using your home printer.

Studying tonal values

On the "Tonal values" tab study tonal values to learn how to create contrast and depth in your portraits. Balancing tonal values is as important as accurate color mixing.

Tonal value study in ArtistAssistApp

Simplifying your reference photo

On the "Simplified" tab smooth your portrait photo to reduce detail and focus on the big shapes and proportions. If you like to paint more impressionistically, you need to simplify the reference photo. Avoid squinting your eyes to blur your reference.

Smoothing out and simplifying a reference photo in ArtistAssistApp

Accurately mixing colors with ArtistAssistApp

On the "Color picker" tab just click or tap anywhere on the photo, and the app will show you that color and how to mix it with your paints.

Accurately mixing any color from a photo using ArtistAssistApp

Accurately mixing any color from a photo using ArtistAssistApp

Accurately mixing any color from a photo using ArtistAssistApp

Save instructions for mixing your favorite colors so you can quickly access them using the "Palette" tab. There is a separate palette for each reference photo.

Storing favorite color mixtures in the ArtistAssistApp palette

The palette's colors stack on top of one another in color swatch mode and are displayed next to the photo.

The color swatch palette mode in ArtistAssistApp

Adjusting white balance and saturation with ArtistAssistApp

On the "White balance" tab adjust white balance and saturation of the photo of your painting in a few clicks. Adjusting white balance and saturation after taking a photo of a painting is critical to eliminating gray casts and achieving rich colors.

White balance and saturation adjustment in ArtistAssistApp

White balance and saturation adjustment in ArtistAssistApp

About ArtistAssistApp

ArtistAssistApp, also known as Artist Assist App, is a web app for artists to accurately mix any color from a photo, analyze tonal values, turn a photo into an outline, draw with the grid method, paint with a limited palette, simplify a photo, remove the background from an image, compare photos pairwise, and more.

Try it now for free at https://app.artistassistapp.com to improve your painting and drawing skills and create stunning artworks.