plate no. 8075

A Fisherman's House

Robert Spencer, 1917

oilImpressionismcityscapebuildingwaterbridgeskyhousesfence

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle variations and practice layering brushstrokes to create texture and depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the building, bridge, and distant cityscape.
step 02
Block in the sky with light, muted colors, using vertical brushstrokes.
step 03
Establish the water with horizontal strokes, varying the blue and gray tones.
step 04
Paint the building using a mix of yellows, browns, and grays, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 05
Add details to the bridge and distant buildings, keeping them soft and blurred.
step 06
Paint the foreground with darker browns and greens, adding texture with short, broken brushstrokes.
step 07
Add the fence details, using dark browns and grays.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · raw sienna · cadmium red light

Mix blues and whites for the sky and water. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber for the building and foreground. Add small amounts of red to create warmer tones.

techniques