plate no. 3160

A Mother and Child by a River, with Wild Roses

Mildred Anne Butler, 1919

oilImpressionismgenre paintingfiguresriverlandscapeflowersskyfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering figures in a landscape setting and capturing the subtle color variations in natural light. It also provides practice in painting detailed botanical elements like the wild roses.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures, river, and horizon line.
step 02
Establish the main color blocks for the sky, water, and fields using thin washes.
step 03
Begin building up the forms of the figures, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Add details to the clothing, hair, and facial features of the figures.
step 05
Paint the wild roses, focusing on the delicate petals and leaves.
step 06
Develop the foreground foliage, varying the colors and textures to create depth.
step 07
Refine the reflections in the water, using subtle color variations.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · rose madder · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · sap green · ultramarine blue · raw umber

Achieve the delicate pinks and purples by mixing rose madder with white and a touch of blue. Create natural greens by mixing yellow ochre with ultramarine or sap green.

techniques