plate no. 2766

Base of Falls

Neil Welliver, 1989

oil, canvasContemporary Realismlandscapewaterfallrockstreesstreamlandscapefoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes into geometric shapes and understanding how to depict the movement of water with distinct brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: waterfall, rocks, trees, and stream flow.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, rocks, and water, using thinned paint.
step 03
Define the shapes of the rocks with darker values and distinct edges.
step 04
Add the details of the waterfall, using white and light gray to indicate the cascading water.
step 05
Create the illusion of water movement by using short, directional brushstrokes.
step 06
Paint the trees and foliage, focusing on their simplified forms and color variations.
step 07
Refine the details and add highlights to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white · sap green

secondary · yellow ochre · black

Mix various shades of gray by combining ultramarine blue, burnt umber, and white. Create greens by mixing sap green with yellow ochre and white. Darken colors with burnt umber or black.

techniques