plate no. 9124

House on the Banks of a River

Maurice de Vlaminck, 1909

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismcityscapehouserivertreesskyreflectionlandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing reflections in water and using expressive brushstrokes to define form. It also encourages simplification of complex scenes into basic shapes and colors.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the house, trees, and horizon line.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, water, and land using thin washes.
step 03
Add the darker values to define the shapes of the trees and the house.
step 04
Begin building up the colors of the house, focusing on the light and shadow.
step 05
Paint the reflections in the water, using vertical strokes and slightly desaturated colors.
step 06
Add details to the trees, such as branches and texture.
step 07
Refine the edges and add highlights to create a sense of depth.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · cerulean blue · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · viridian green · burnt umber

Mix greens by combining blue and yellow. Use white to lighten colors and create variations in tone. Desaturate colors for reflections by adding a touch of complementary color (e.g., adding a little red to green).

techniques