apprentice
artistsserieslearnchatartworkscommunity gallery
apprentice

deliberate practice for serious artists

aboutgalleryprivacyterms
built by reducibl.com
home·artworks·Brook in June
Brook in June by Willard Metcalf

plate no. 2484

Brook in June

Willard Metcalf, 1919

oilImpressionismlandscaperivertreeslandscapebuildingsskyhills
some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective to depict distance.

technical profile

palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

  1. step 01

    Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the river, hills, and buildings.

  2. step 02

    Block in the sky with light blue and white, using soft, blended brushstrokes.

  3. step 03

    Establish the basic colors of the river, using varying shades of blue and hints of green and purple.

  4. step 04

    Paint the distant hills with muted greens, browns, and purples, creating a sense of atmospheric perspective.

  5. step 05

    Add the trees and foliage, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture and depth.

  6. step 06

    Paint the buildings with light yellows and whites, adding shadows to define their forms.

  7. step 07

    Refine the details of the riverbank and foreground, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.

  8. step 08

    Add final touches and details, such as reflections in the water and highlights on the trees.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · sap green · burnt umber · cadmium yellow

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Create muted tones by adding small amounts of burnt umber to other colors.

techniques

  • ·broken color
  • ·wet-on-wet blending
  • ·scumbling
  • ·atmospheric perspective
  • ·layering

common pitfalls

  • →Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic feel.
  • →Using colors that are too saturated and not blending them sufficiently.
  • →Failing to create a sense of depth and distance.
  • →Not varying brushstrokes enough to create texture.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

  • ·stretched canvas 12x16
  • ·oil paints
  • ·round brushes (#2, #6)
  • ·flat brush (#8)
  • ·palette
  • ·linseed oil
  • ·odorless mineral spirits
  • ·palette knife

optional

  • ·painting medium
  • ·easel
  • ·rags

Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a glazing medium to enhance the depth of colors.

tips & new artworks in your inbox

no spam — unsubscribe anytime.

or to save artworks, chat, and track progress

related guides

oil painting for beginners →color theory for painters →how to learn by studying the masters →
chat about this artwork

in this vein

related artworks

View of the Bosphorus and Rumeli Hisarı

View of the Bosphorus and Rumeli Hisarı

Sevket Dag

Paysage du Midi

Paysage du Midi

Armand Guillaumin

Self-Portrait

Self-Portrait

Frederic Bazille

Tip of the Bay

Tip of the Bay

Max Kurzweil

Long Stemmed Lovelies

Long Stemmed Lovelies

Pino Daeni

At Rosetta, Lower Egypt

At Rosetta, Lower Egypt

John Varley II

House from Oltenia

House from Oltenia

Theodor Pallady

Jewish quarter in Amsterdam

Jewish quarter in Amsterdam

Max Liebermann