plate no. 3778

Bedford Hills

Childe Hassam, 1908

oilImpressionismlandscapetreeswaterlandscapeskyfoliagestream

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in impressionistic brushwork and color mixing to capture light and atmosphere. It also provides practice in creating depth and texture using short, broken strokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees, stream, and distant hill.
step 02
Establish the sky with light blue and white, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the trees and foliage with varying shades of green and yellow.
step 04
Define the stream with blues, browns, and reflections of the surrounding colors.
step 05
Add details to the trees and foliage, using small dabs of color to create texture and light.
step 06
Paint the fence posts and surrounding vegetation with short, broken strokes, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 07
Refine the reflections in the water, using horizontal strokes to suggest movement.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the depth and dimension of the painting.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · yellow ochre · sap green · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, and use white to lighten colors and create highlights. Browns can be achieved by mixing complementary colors like blue and orange.

techniques