plate no. 2296
House by the river
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing reflections in water and using broken color to create texture and depth in foliage. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into manageable shapes and color blocks.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the horizon line, the houses, the tree masses, and the water's edge.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of light blue and gray.
- step 03
Establish the basic colors of the houses and trees, focusing on their overall shapes and values.
- step 04
Paint the water using horizontal strokes, capturing the reflections of the houses and trees with slightly darker and more muted colors.
- step 05
Add details to the trees and foliage using short, broken brushstrokes of various greens, yellows, and browns.
- step 06
Introduce lily pads and other details in the water with small dabs of color.
- step 07
Refine the reflections, paying attention to the distortion and color variations caused by the water's surface.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to the houses and trees to create depth and interest.
color palette
primary · Prussian blue · Yellow ochre · Titanium white · Burnt umber
secondary · Cadmium red · Sap green · Payne's gray
Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and Prussian blue. Use white to lighten colors and create variations in value. Add a touch of red to browns and greens to create warmer tones.
techniques
- ·Broken color
- ·Impasto
- ·Wet-on-dry layering
- ·Color mixing
- ·Capturing reflections
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the spontaneity of the brushstrokes.
- →Making the reflections too literal and symmetrical.
- →Using colors that are too saturated and not capturing the muted tones of the scene.
- →Failing to establish a clear focal point.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
- ·Oil paints (Prussian blue, Yellow ochre, Titanium white, Burnt umber, Cadmium red, Sap green, Payne's gray)
- ·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
- ·Palette
- ·Palette knife
- ·Odorless mineral spirits
- ·Linseed oil
- ·Rags
optional
- ·Medium gloss
- ·Easel
- ·Viewfinder
Use a limited palette to simplify color mixing and create a harmonious painting. Consider toning the canvas with a thin wash of burnt umber before starting.
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