plate no. 8919

Cos Cob

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscapebuildingswaterboatsreflectionslandscapetrees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing reflections and using broken color to create a sense of light and atmosphere. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and color blocks.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the basic shapes of the buildings, boats, and horizon line.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, water, and buildings using thin washes.
step 03
Start layering colors to build up the reflections in the water, paying attention to the vertical strokes.
step 04
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and roof lines, using small, broken brushstrokes.
step 05
Refine the shapes of the boats and add highlights to create a sense of form.
step 06
Use short, choppy strokes to create texture in the trees and foliage.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · viridian green · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

Mix yellow ochre with small amounts of burnt sienna to create the warm tones of the buildings. Use viridian green and ultramarine blue to create the cool tones of the water and sky. Add titanium white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques