plate no. 8686

Olt Valley

Ștefan Popescu, 1918

oilImpressionismlandscapetreeswaterlandscapefoliageriverbanksky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering brushstrokes to create texture and depth, as well as mixing muted color palettes for naturalistic landscapes. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the trees, riverbank, and water.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, water, and land using thin washes.
step 03
Begin layering darker greens and browns for the foliage, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 04
Add highlights to the leaves with lighter yellows and greens.
step 05
Paint the tree trunks with a mix of browns and reds, adding highlights and shadows to create form.
step 06
Refine the details of the riverbank, adding texture and variations in color.
step 07
Add subtle reflections in the water, using slightly darker and desaturated versions of the surrounding colors.
step 08
Make final adjustments to values and colors to create depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · sap green · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cerulean blue · cadmium yellow · raw sienna

Achieve the muted greens by mixing sap green with burnt umber and yellow ochre. The water color is achieved by mixing cerulean blue with yellow ochre and a touch of white.

techniques