plate no. 8085
Houses on the Shore of Lake Cernica
some experience helpful
This painting is great for learning simplified shapes and color blocking. Recreating it will help students understand how to suggest form with minimal detail and visible brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the houses, hill, and shoreline, focusing on proportions.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, water, hill, and foreground.
- step 03
Add the basic shapes of the houses with white and light grey.
- step 04
Define the roof lines and add shadows to the houses to create depth.
- step 05
Add details to the hill and foreground with varied yellows and browns.
- step 06
Paint the red doors as focal points.
- step 07
Refine the edges and add subtle color variations to the water and sky.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · titanium white
secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light · sap green
Mix various shades of yellow ochre with white and small amounts of blue or green for the hills and foreground. Use ultramarine blue with white and a touch of yellow ochre for the water. Mix burnt sienna and cadmium red for the doors.
techniques
- ·color blocking
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·simplified shapes
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic feel.
- →Making the colors too saturated and not achieving the muted tones.
- →Incorrect proportions of the houses and landscape.
- →Not varying the brushstrokes enough to create texture.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·yellow ochre paint
- ·ultramarine blue paint
- ·titanium white paint
- ·burnt sienna paint
- ·cadmium red light paint
- ·round brushes size 4-8
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas to allow for texture. Oil paints will give a richer color, but acrylics are easier to clean up.
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