plate no. 1573

A Summer's Day

oil, canvasAcademicismlandscapetreeswaterskycloudslandscapereflection

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering reflections in water and creating depth using atmospheric perspective. Students will also learn how to depict complex foliage with varied greens and browns.

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 perspective of the river and the placement of the trees.
step 02
Establish the sky and cloud shapes with light blues and whites.
step 03
Block in the dark masses of the trees on either side of the river, using a mix of greens and browns.
step 04
Begin layering in details of the foliage, varying the greens and adding highlights to suggest sunlight.
step 05
Paint the reflections in the water, paying attention to the distortion and color variations.
step 06
Add details like lily pads and small ripples in the water.
step 07
Refine the edges and details of the trees and foliage.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · viridian green · burnt umber · titanium white · cerulean blue

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow

Achieve the various greens by mixing viridian green with yellow ochre or cadmium yellow. Use burnt umber and ultramarine blue to create dark, muted tones for shadows and reflections.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·scumbling
·glazing
·atmospheric perspective
·broken color

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the foliage, resulting in a flat, unrealistic appearance.
→Failing to accurately depict the reflections in the water, making them appear unnatural.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the trees and water, leading to a monotonous painting.
→Not establishing a strong sense of depth and perspective.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (viridian green, burnt umber, titanium white, cerulean blue, yellow ochre, raw sienna, ultramarine blue, cadmium yellow)
·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·palette
·palette knife