plate no. 9868

River

Arkady Rylov, 1912

oilSymbolismlandscaperiverlandscapetreesskygrasswater

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle variations in water and sky, as well as practice layering techniques to create depth in the landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the river and horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light gray-blue mixture.
step 03
Establish the land masses with broad strokes of green and brown.
step 04
Begin layering the water, mixing gray, blue, and hints of green to create reflections.
step 05
Add details to the trees and foliage, using darker greens and browns.
step 06
Create subtle highlights on the water's surface to suggest movement.
step 07
Refine the edges and details, paying attention to the atmospheric perspective.
step 08
Add final touches, such as small details in the foreground.

color palette

primary · gray · blue · green · brown

secondary · white · yellow ochre · burnt umber

Achieve the subtle grays in the sky and water by mixing white with small amounts of blue, brown, and yellow ochre. Use varying proportions to create different values and temperatures.

techniques

·layering
·blending
·atmospheric perspective
·scumbling
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details, which can flatten the image.
→Using colors that are too saturated, which can detract from the overall mood.
→Ignoring the atmospheric perspective, which can make the landscape appear flat.
→Not mixing enough paint to cover the canvas, leading to inconsistent color.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·Oil paints: Titanium White, Ultramarine Blue, Yellow Ochre, Burnt Umber, Sap Green
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (flat and round)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags