plate no. 7164
October Shower Gleam
J. E. H. MacDonald, 1922
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve muted tones and layering brushstrokes to create texture and depth in foliage and reflections.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the mountains, lake, and sky, paying attention to the overall composition.
- step 02
Establish the horizon line and the main areas of reflection in the water.
- step 03
Block in the sky with broad strokes of dark blues and grays, creating the stormy cloud effect.
- step 04
Apply the base colors for the mountains, using greens, reds, and yellows to represent the autumn foliage.
- step 05
Start working on the reflections in the water, mirroring the colors and shapes of the mountains but with softened edges.
- step 06
Add details to the trees and foliage, using smaller brushstrokes and varying colors to create texture.
- step 07
Paint the fallen tree in the foreground, paying attention to its form and the way it interacts with the water.
- step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create depth and atmosphere.
color palette
primary · Prussian Blue · Burnt Sienna · Yellow Ochre
secondary · Cadmium Red · Sap Green · Titanium White
Mix blues and browns to create the stormy sky. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the warm tones of the foliage. Add white to lighten colors and create highlights.
techniques
- ·Wet-on-wet blending
- ·Broken color
- ·Layering
- ·Scumbling
- ·Impasto
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the reflections, making them too detailed and distracting.
- →Using colors straight from the tube without mixing, resulting in a flat and unnatural look.
- →Ignoring the atmospheric perspective, causing the distant mountains to appear too sharp and defined.
- →Failing to establish a clear focal point, making the composition feel unfocused.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
- ·Oil paints (Prussian Blue, Burnt Sienna, Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Red, Sap Green, Titanium White)
- ·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
- ·Palette
- ·Palette knife
- ·Odorless mineral spirits
- ·Linseed oil
- ·Rags
optional
- ·Retarder medium
- ·Varnish
Use a medium-grit canvas for better paint adhesion. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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