plate no. 0706

A Watermill

oilImpressionismlandscapewatermillbuildinglandscapewheelskyarchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering textures using broken color and visible brushstrokes. It will also teach how to simplify complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition lightly on the canvas.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and distant hills.
step 03
Establish the values of the buildings and watermill, focusing on the light and shadow patterns.
step 04
Add details to the watermill, such as the wheel and the surrounding structure.
step 05
Develop the foreground vegetation with broken color and varied brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the details and adjust the values to create depth and atmosphere.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and texture.
step 08
Let it dry and add a varnish.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · burnt sienna

secondary · sap green · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Mix raw umber and white for the stone structures. Use burnt sienna and yellow ochre for the roof. Create muted greens by mixing sap green with raw umber and a touch of blue.

techniques

·broken color
·dry brush
·atmospheric perspective
·scumbling
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details
→Creating muddy colors
→Ignoring the atmospheric perspective
→Not varying brushstrokes
→Failing to establish a clear value structure

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 12x16
·Oil paints: raw umber, titanium white, burnt sienna, sap green, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre
·Round brushes (#2, #4, #6)
·Flat brushes (#6, #8)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Rags