plate no. 9192

Fishing the Merced River

oilRomanticismlandscapemountainsrivertreeswaterfallrocksfigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and creating depth through layering and color variations. It also provides practice in capturing the textures of rocks, trees, and flowing water.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the mountains, river, and trees.
step 02
Establish the sky with light blues and grays, blending softly.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the mountains, using cool grays and purples for the distant peaks and warmer tones for the foreground.
step 04
Paint the river, using browns, greens, and blues to create depth and reflections.
step 05
Add the trees and foliage, varying the greens and browns to create texture and depth.
step 06
Paint the rocks and boulders in the foreground, paying attention to their shapes and shadows.
step 07
Add the figure and other small details to complete the scene.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a sense of atmosphere and depth.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · viridian green

Mix various shades of gray for the mountains by combining white, blue, and umber. Achieve the earthy tones of the foreground by mixing umber, ochre, and small amounts of red and green.

techniques