plate no. 4558
Old Mill
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as practicing brushwork techniques to represent foliage and reflections.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the horizon line, the main tree, the building, and the water's edge.
- step 02
Establish the sky with a thin wash of light gray and add soft clouds.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the trees and foliage with varying shades of green.
- step 04
Paint the water with a base of gray-blue, adding reflections of the trees and sky.
- step 05
Add details to the building, using browns and grays.
- step 06
Develop the foliage with short, broken brushstrokes, varying the colors and values.
- step 07
Refine the reflections in the water, paying attention to the direction of the light.
- step 08
Add final details such as the birds and highlights on the foliage.
color palette
primary · sap green · titanium white · raw umber · ultramarine blue
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · payne's gray
Mix greens by combining sap green with yellow ochre or ultramarine blue. Achieve grays by mixing ultramarine blue, raw umber, and titanium white. Use burnt sienna to add warmth to the browns.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·broken brushstrokes
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·wet-on-dry
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Creating overly uniform foliage without enough variation in color and value.
- →Making the reflections in the water too literal and symmetrical.
- →Ignoring the subtle color shifts in the sky and landscape.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·rags
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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