plate no. 0467
Red reflection
Arkady Rylov, 1928
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand color mixing for natural scenes and practice capturing reflections in water. It will also improve their ability to suggest detail with loose brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and the placement of major elements like the lake and trees.
- step 02
Establish the main color blocks for the sky, water, and land using thin washes.
- step 03
Begin building up layers of color in the trees and foliage, using a variety of greens, yellows, and blues.
- step 04
Focus on capturing the reflections in the water, paying attention to the color and value shifts.
- step 05
Add details to the foreground elements, such as the trees and grasses, using smaller brushes.
- step 06
Refine the overall composition, adjusting colors and values as needed.
- step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Let dry and add a varnish layer.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · sap green
secondary · alizarin crimson · titanium white
Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Create the red reflections by mixing burnt sienna and alizarin crimson. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·scumbling
- ·color layering
- ·impasto
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting and losing the loose, expressive brushstrokes.
- →Making the reflections too literal and not capturing the subtle color shifts.
- →Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
- →Ignoring the importance of value contrast in creating depth.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·oil paints
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 6, 8)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 10)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve a variety of textures.
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