plate no. 9456

Mirror

oilSymbolismlandscapetreeswaterbridgebuildingskyreflection

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing atmospheric perspective and simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and color blocks. It also provides practice in creating convincing reflections in water.

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: the horizon line, the bridge, the building, and the large masses of trees.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blues and whites, focusing on the cloud shapes.
step 03
Establish the dark masses of the trees using a mix of greens and browns.
step 04
Paint the building in the background, using muted colors to suggest distance.
step 05
Add the bridge, paying attention to its horizontal lines and the reflections in the water.
step 06
Create the water reflections using vertical strokes and slightly darker versions of the colors above.
step 07
Refine the details of the trees and foliage with varied greens and yellows.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · sap green · titanium white · cerulean blue

secondary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · cadmium yellow light

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows. Use white to lighten colors and create atmospheric perspective. Mute colors with complementary colors for the distant elements.

techniques