plate no. 7619
Riverside, View of Abbeville
Frits Thaulow, 1894
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting reflections in water and creating depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in rendering architectural details with loose, impressionistic brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings and the river banks, paying attention to perspective.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of pale blue and gray.
- step 03
Establish the dark values of the water using a mix of blues, greens, and browns.
- step 04
Begin adding details to the buildings, focusing on the play of light and shadow.
- step 05
Develop the reflections in the water, using horizontal brushstrokes to suggest movement.
- step 06
Add highlights to the water and buildings to create a sense of depth and dimension.
- step 07
Refine the details of the buildings and the water, paying attention to the overall composition.
- step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · yellow ochre
secondary · titanium white · cadmium red · viridian green
Mix various shades of blue and green with white and umber for the water. Use ochre and red for the buildings, adjusting with umber and white for shadows and highlights.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details of the buildings, losing the impressionistic feel.
- →Creating too much contrast in the water, making it appear unnatural.
- →Ignoring the perspective, resulting in a flat and unrealistic composition.
- →Using too much detail in the background, flattening the depth.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·rags
optional
- ·painting medium (e.g., Liquin)
- ·easel
- ·varnish
Use a medium-grit canvas for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base color.
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