plate no. 6089

Old Mill, Pelago, Italy

Willard Metcalf, 1913

oilImpressionismlandscapebuildingslandscapetreeswaterfigureshills

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective to represent distance. It also provides practice in capturing the play of light on different surfaces.

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 buildings, trees, and water.
step 02
Establish the main color blocks for the sky, hills, buildings, and water with thin washes.
step 03
Begin layering colors on the buildings to create form and texture, using a variety of warm and cool tones.
step 04
Develop the trees, paying attention to the branches and foliage, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 05
Paint the water, suggesting movement and reflections with horizontal strokes and varying values.
step 06
Add details to the figures and other elements, refining the shapes and colors.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to capture the light and texture.

color palette

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

secondary · sap green · cadmium yellow · raw umber

Mix various shades of green by combining blue and yellow, and create warm grays by mixing complementary colors like burnt sienna and ultramarine blue. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques

·broken color
·layering
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·wet-on-dry

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic effect.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing, resulting in a flat and unnatural look.
→Ignoring the importance of value contrast in creating depth and form.
→Failing to capture the movement and fluidity of the water.