plate no. 1570
Landscape with Stream
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in impressionistic brushwork and color mixing to create atmospheric perspective. Students will also learn how to depict the movement of water and the texture of foliage using broken color.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the stream, hills, and trees.
- step 02
Establish the sky with a light pink and lavender wash, blending softly.
- step 03
Block in the large shapes of the hills using a base of yellow ochre and raw sienna.
- step 04
Add shadows to the hills using a mix of burnt umber and ultramarine blue.
- step 05
Paint the trees with dabs of green, yellow, and blue, varying the hues to create depth.
- step 06
Depict the stream with layers of blue, brown, and white, using short, broken brushstrokes to suggest movement.
- step 07
Add highlights to the rocks and water with touches of white and yellow.
- step 08
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed to achieve a harmonious effect.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · titanium white
secondary · burnt umber · raw sienna · cadmium yellow
Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Achieve the pink sky by mixing titanium white with a touch of red and blue. Use burnt umber and ultramarine blue to create dark shadows.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
- ·impressionistic brushwork
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Creating overly defined edges, losing the impressionistic feel.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the landscape.
- →Failing to capture the movement of the water.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
- ·odorless mineral spirits (for cleaning brushes)
optional
- ·easel
- ·medium gloss
- ·painting rags
Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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