plate no. 8038

Portage Falls on the Genesee

oil, canvasRomanticismlandscapelandscapewaterfalltreescliffsfoliagesky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as rendering complex foliage and rock formations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the waterfall and cliffs.
step 02
Establish the sky and distant mountains with thin washes of color.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the cliffs and foliage using dark, muted tones.
step 04
Begin layering colors to define the forms of the trees and rocks, working from dark to light.
step 05
Add details to the waterfall, using white and light blue to create the illusion of movement.
step 06
Refine the foliage with small brushstrokes of various colors, creating texture and depth.
step 07
Add highlights to the rocks and trees to create contrast and dimension.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and create atmosphere.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · sap green · raw sienna

Achieve the warm, earthy tones by mixing burnt umber, yellow ochre, and cadmium red. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky and waterfall. Mix greens with yellow ochre and ultramarine blue.

techniques