plate no. 2768

Falls of Schaffhausen

oilRomanticismlandscapewaterfallrocksskylandscapearchitecture

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering dynamic water movement and atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in using a limited palette to create a range of values and textures.

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: the cliffs, rocks, and the overall flow of the waterfall.
step 02
Establish the base tones for the sky and the distant areas of the waterfall with diluted washes.
step 03
Begin building up the darker values in the rocks and cliffs, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 04
Start layering in the white foam of the waterfall, using broken brushstrokes to suggest movement.
step 05
Add subtle blues and grays to the water to create depth and dimension.
step 06
Refine the details in the architecture and foliage, keeping them soft and indistinct.
step 07
Use dry brush techniques to add texture to the rocks and cliffs.
step 08
Add final highlights to the waterfall and the edges of the rocks to enhance the sense of light and drama.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · raw umber · payne's gray

Mix burnt sienna and ultramarine blue to create a range of browns and grays. Use white to lighten these mixtures and create highlights. Yellow ochre adds warmth to the rocks and cliffs.

techniques

·dry brushing
·broken brushstrokes
·atmospheric perspective
·layering
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the sense of spontaneity.
→Creating overly harsh lines, which will flatten the image.
→Not diluting the paints enough, resulting in a heavy, opaque look.
→Failing to establish a clear value structure, leading to a muddy or indistinct image.