plate no. 0045
River Landscape by Moonlight
George Henry, 1887
some experience helpful
This painting provides an opportunity to practice blending techniques to create atmospheric effects and to study the reflection of light on water. Students can also learn how to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and values.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Prepare your canvas with a thin wash of burnt umber.
- step 02
Sketch the basic composition: horizon line, moon position, and general shapes of the land and buildings.
- step 03
Block in the sky with a mix of blues and purples, varying the tones to create depth.
- step 04
Paint the water with dark blues, adding subtle variations to suggest movement.
- step 05
Add the landmass in the foreground using burnt umber and darker browns.
- step 06
Paint the moon with a bright yellow-orange, blending the edges softly.
- step 07
Add reflections of the moon and city lights in the water using lighter yellows and oranges.
- step 08
Add details to the buildings and structures in the background, keeping them simple and suggestive.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · yellow ochre
secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · titanium white
Achieve the dark blues by mixing ultramarine blue with burnt umber. Create the moon's glow by mixing cadmium yellow with a touch of alizarin crimson and white. Use white to lighten the blues and browns for highlights and reflections.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details in the background buildings.
- →Making the moon too harsh and bright.
- →Not creating enough depth in the sky and water.
- →Using too much detail in the foreground.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·cadmium yellow oil paint
- ·alizarin crimson oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-grain canvas to allow for texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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