plate no. 6906

Raging River

oil, canvasRomanticismlandscapewaterfallrockstreesmountainsskyfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering the movement and texture of water. It also provides practice in creating depth through layering and value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the waterfall, rocks, and horizon line.
step 02
Establish the sky and distant mountains with thin washes of color, using lighter values for the sky and gradually darkening towards the foreground.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the rocks and foliage, paying attention to their values and colors.
step 04
Begin to define the waterfall, using white and light blues to capture the movement and texture of the water.
step 05
Add details to the rocks and foliage, using smaller brushes to create texture and variation.
step 06
Refine the lighting and shadows, paying attention to the direction of the light source.
step 07
Add final details, such as highlights on the water and small branches on the trees.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the painting and adjust colors as needed.

color palette

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

secondary · viridian green · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue, and adjust with white or burnt umber to create variations. Use white and ultramarine blue with small amounts of burnt umber to create the various shades of the sky and water.

techniques