plate no. 1534

Herbstliche Bachlandschaft im Abendlicht

Lesser Ury, 1900

oilImpressionismlandscapetreeswaterlandscapeskyriverfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values. Students will also practice capturing the effect of light on water and foliage.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes: the river, the trees, and the distant hill.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of light yellow and beige.
step 03
Establish the darkest values in the trees and the distant hill using dark green and blue.
step 04
Add the base colors for the water, using a mix of yellow, white, and a touch of blue.
step 05
Layer greens and yellows for the field, varying the hues to create depth.
step 06
Develop the trees with layers of greens, browns, and yellows, using short, broken strokes.
step 07
Add reflections in the water, mirroring the colors of the trees and sky.
step 08
Refine details and adjust values to create a sense of atmosphere.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · sap green · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · cadmium yellow · raw sienna

Achieve the muted greens by mixing yellow ochre with ultramarine blue and white. Create the water reflections by mixing the colors of the surrounding landscape with white to lighten them.

techniques