plate no. 6335

By the Brook

Lilla Cabot Perry, 1909

oilImpressionismportraitportraitfiguredresstreeslandscapewater

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing for subtle variations and using broken color techniques to create texture and light. It also provides practice in portraiture and capturing the essence of a figure in a landscape.

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 placement of the figure and major landscape elements.
step 02
Establish the background colors with broad strokes, working from dark to light.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, paying attention to proportions and pose.
step 04
Begin adding details to the face, using small brushstrokes and subtle color variations.
step 05
Develop the textures of the dress and surrounding foliage with broken color and impasto techniques.
step 06
Refine the details of the water and reflections.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Review and adjust the overall composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · viridian · alizarin crimson

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · cadmium yellow light

Achieve the subtle variations in the dress by mixing white with small amounts of other colors like yellow ochre, alizarin crimson, and ultramarine blue. Create the greens by mixing viridian with cadmium yellow light and white.

techniques