plate no. 5329
River with Poplars
Roger Fry, 1912
some experience helpful
This painting is great for practicing simplified shapes and color blocking. Students can learn to capture a landscape's essence without intricate details.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the landscape: river, trees, and distant hills.
- step 02
Block in the sky with broad strokes of muted colors.
- step 03
Establish the dark mass of the distant trees.
- step 04
Define the river's shape and reflections using horizontal strokes.
- step 05
Paint the foreground vegetation with distinct blocks of green and red-brown.
- step 06
Add vertical strokes for the poplar trees, varying the colors slightly.
- step 07
Refine the shapes and colors, paying attention to the overall harmony.
- step 08
Add final touches to the reflections and highlights.
color palette
primary · dark green · red-brown · purple-grey · yellow ochre
secondary · light green · light blue · dark brown
Mix greens by combining blues and yellows with a touch of brown. Achieve the muted sky colors by mixing purples, greys, and yellows.
techniques
- ·color blocking
- ·simplified shapes
- ·horizontal brushstrokes for water
- ·vertical brushstrokes for trees
- ·limited palette
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details
- →Getting bogged down in realism
- →Using too many colors
- →Ignoring the overall color harmony
materials
surface · Stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas
- ·Acrylic or oil paints
- ·Flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·Palette
- ·Palette knife
- ·Odorless mineral spirits or water (depending on paint type)
- ·Rags
optional
- ·Medium for oil paints
- ·Easel
- ·Apron
Using a limited palette will help maintain color harmony. Consider using a toned canvas to start.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
related guides
