plate no. 6742

River near hospital

oilImpressionismlandscaperivertreesskycloudsbuildingslandscape

some experience helpful

This painting is great for learning how to create atmospheric perspective and capture the mood of a cloudy day. Students will practice loose brushwork and color mixing to create a sense of depth and realism.

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, buildings, and horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky with light gray and white, using horizontal brushstrokes.
step 03
Add darker grays and blues to create the cloud formations.
step 04
Paint the distant trees and hills with muted greens and browns, using a slightly blurred effect.
step 05
Block in the buildings with warm browns and grays, paying attention to their basic shapes.
step 06
Paint the river with varying shades of blue, gray, and white, using short, choppy brushstrokes to suggest movement.
step 07
Add details to the foreground, such as grass and reflections in the water.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a cohesive and atmospheric painting.

color palette

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

secondary · sap green · raw sienna · payne's gray

Mix various shades of gray by combining white, blue, and umber. Create greens by mixing blue and yellow ochre, and adjust the warmth with burnt umber.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·broken color
·atmospheric perspective
·scumbling
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Making the colors too saturated and not capturing the muted tones of the scene.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
→Not varying the brushstrokes enough to create texture and interest.