plate no. 7326

Landscape with Goose

Fred Williams, 1974

oilExpressionismlandscapelandscaperivertreesvegetationskygoose

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and layering colors to create texture and depth. It also encourages simplification of forms and capturing the essence of a landscape rather than precise detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of the river, landmasses, and horizon line.
step 02
Apply a thin wash of diluted yellow ochre or a similar earth tone to the entire canvas as an underpainting.
step 03
Block in the large areas of color: the river with varying shades of yellow and orange, the sky with light gray, and the landmasses with greens, browns, and reds.
step 04
Use short, broken brushstrokes to build up texture and suggest foliage on the trees and vegetation.
step 05
Introduce highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 06
Add details such as the goose using quick, gestural strokes.
step 07
Refine the edges and blend colors where necessary to achieve a harmonious effect.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · sap green · cadmium red · ultramarine blue

Mix various shades of green by combining yellow ochre, sap green, and a touch of ultramarine blue. Create earthy browns by mixing burnt sienna, ultramarine blue, and a touch of yellow ochre. Lighten colors with titanium white and darken with burnt sienna or ultramarine blue.

techniques