plate no. 3447

Narcissus reflecting in the water

oil, canvasClassicismmythological paintingtreeswaterfiguredoglandscapefoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective, color mixing for natural light, and rendering complex foliage. It also provides practice in depicting figures and animals within a landscape setting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, dog, trees, and distant mountains.
step 02
Establish the sky and distant landscape with thin washes of color, creating atmospheric perspective.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the trees and foliage with darker greens and browns.
step 04
Begin to define the figure and dog with basic shapes and values.
step 05
Add details to the trees and foliage, using layering and dry brushing to create texture.
step 06
Refine the figure and dog, paying attention to anatomy and light.
step 07
Paint the water and reflections, using horizontal brushstrokes and subtle color variations.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · sap green · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow · raw sienna

Achieve the various greens by mixing sap green with yellow ochre and burnt umber. Use ultramarine blue and white to create the hazy distant mountains. Mix white with small amounts of yellow ochre and burnt umber for the figure's skin tones.

techniques