Painting Machu Picchu in Fresh Greens

I loved painting Machu Picchu again! The terraces and that sharp peak (huayna picchu) gave me a strong pattern of light and dark, perfect for bold watercolour shapes. I began with a simple sky wash, then laid in those lively greens to suggest sunlit grass and cool mountain shade. I kept the distant hills soft and the foreground terraces crisp, so the eye travels through the scene. The figures are tiny dots, just enough to show scale and life.

My palette here was neutral tint, burnt umber, burnt sienna, yellow ochre, viridian, spring green, cobalt green, cerulean blue, cobalt blue, ultramarine, lavender, alizarin crimson, cadmium red, light red, cadmium yellow and a touch of white for a few sparkle highlights. I sometimes add quinacridone gold for a warm glow in the stone. Big mop for the sky and distant hills, a medium brush for the slopes, then a small point for the terraces and dark accents. Keep edges varied, drop in darker greens while the wash is damp, and leave plenty of paper for the light.

If painting this scene, think about values first. The dark mountain behind the bright terraces gives lovely contrast. Try a limited drawing, then paint with confidence in as few layers as possible. Aim for lost and found edges around the mid ground buildings, and finish with a few crisp marks for stones and shadows. Simple marks. Strong shapes. Let the water do the work.