plate no. 3491

Outdoors

Arkady Rylov, 1933

oilSymbolismlandscapetreeswaterlandscapeskyfoliageriver

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and capturing reflections in water. It also provides practice in depicting various textures of foliage using different brushstrokes.

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 river and the large masses of trees.
step 02
Establish the sky with a light blue wash, adding subtle variations for clouds.
step 03
Block in the dark areas of the water with a dark brown/blue mix, leaving space for reflections.
step 04
Begin layering the foliage, starting with the darkest greens and gradually adding lighter shades.
step 05
Use short, broken brushstrokes to create texture in the trees and bushes.
step 06
Add highlights to the foliage where the sunlight hits, using yellows and lighter greens.
step 07
Paint the reflections in the water, mirroring the colors and shapes of the trees above.
step 08
Add final details, such as small flowers in the foreground and subtle variations in the sky.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · sap green · burnt umber · yellow ochre

secondary · titanium white · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Mix greens by combining blue and yellow, and adjust the shade with burnt umber or white. Achieve the dark water color by mixing burnt umber and ultramarine blue. Use white to lighten colors for highlights and sky.

techniques

·layering
·broken brushstrokes
·wet-on-dry blending
·color mixing
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the foliage, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
→Making the reflections too literal, losing the sense of depth and movement in the water.
→Using too much pure color without mixing, leading to a harsh and unnatural look.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in value, resulting in a lack of depth and dimension.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, sap green, burnt umber, yellow ochre, titanium white)
·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·palette knife