plate no. 8441

River Bend in Normandy

Gustave Loiseau, 1910

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismlandscaperivertreesskycloudslandscapefoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, and in capturing the reflections in water using broken brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, indicating the horizon line, riverbank, and major tree masses.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blues and whites, blending softly.
step 03
Establish the base colors of the water, using blues, greens, and browns.
step 04
Paint the distant trees and foliage with muted greens and blues to create atmospheric perspective.
step 05
Develop the foreground trees and foliage with darker greens, browns, and touches of red and yellow.
step 06
Add highlights to the trees and foliage to create a sense of light and form.
step 07
Create reflections in the water by mirroring the colors and shapes of the trees and sky, using broken brushstrokes.
step 08
Add final details and refine the overall composition.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · viridian green · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, and soften colors by adding white or complementary colors. Use burnt umber to darken greens and create shadows.

techniques