plate no. 3904

October Morning (no 1)

Willard Metcalf, 1910

oilImpressionismlandscaperivertreesautumnlandscapehousesrocks

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and capturing the texture of foliage with loose brushstrokes. It also provides practice in depicting the reflections and movement of water.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the river, trees, and houses.
step 02
Establish the sky with light blue, blending it softly.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the trees and foliage using a mix of greens, yellows, oranges, and browns.
step 04
Paint the river with dark blues and purples, adding highlights to suggest reflections.
step 05
Add details to the houses and other background elements.
step 06
Develop the foreground with more detailed brushwork, focusing on the rocks and vegetation.
step 07
Refine the colors and values throughout the painting, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 08
Add final details, such as small branches and highlights on the water.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · raw umber

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Create variations in foliage by adding small amounts of cadmium yellow, burnt sienna, or alizarin crimson. Achieve the dark river tones by mixing ultramarine blue, burnt umber, and a touch of alizarin crimson.

techniques

·broken color
·wet-on-dry layering
·scumbling
·color mixing
·Impasto

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic feel.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
→Failing to capture the movement and reflections in the water.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the foliage.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, titanium white, cadmium yellow, alizarin crimson, raw umber)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife
·rags