plate no. 2321

Lacul Fundeni

Lucia Demetriade Balacescu, 1962

oilPost-Impressionismlandscaperiverbuildingstreesskylandscapeboat

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and loose, expressive brushwork. It's a good exercise in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.

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 of the landscape: the river, the distant buildings, and the trees.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of pinkish-gray, allowing variations in tone.
step 03
Establish the dark masses of the trees and foliage using a mix of greens and browns.
step 04
Paint the distant buildings with simplified shapes and muted colors, paying attention to their relative values.
step 05
Add the reflections in the water, using horizontal brushstrokes and slightly desaturated versions of the colors above.
step 06
Introduce details like the boat and small buildings, keeping them simple and suggestive.
step 07
Refine the brushwork, adding texture and variation to the foliage and water.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · sap green · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Mix pinkish-gray for the sky by combining white, red, and a touch of umber. Achieve various greens by mixing blue and yellow with umber for muted tones.

techniques