plate no. 9186
Old mill
Vasily Polenov, 1880
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering complex textures like wood and foliage. It also provides practice in capturing subtle color variations and reflections in water.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the mill, water, and surrounding foliage.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
- step 03
Block in the main color masses for the sky, water, mill, and foliage, paying attention to the atmospheric perspective.
- step 04
Begin adding details to the mill, focusing on the texture of the wood and the shapes of the wheels.
- step 05
Develop the foliage, using a variety of greens and browns to create depth and texture.
- step 06
Add reflections in the water, using broken brushstrokes to suggest movement.
- step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details, such as the figure and small plants.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · viridian green
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue
Achieve the muted greens by mixing viridian green with raw umber and titanium white. Create the atmospheric haze by adding white to the blues and browns.
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·broken color
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details, which can flatten the image.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective.
- →Using too much bright color, which can detract from the overall mood.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the water and foliage.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·viridian green oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 filbert brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-grain canvas for better texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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