plate no. 6984

Rocks in a Stream

Maurice Braun, 1920

oilImpressionismlandscaperocksstreamwatertreeslandscape

suitable for beginners

This artwork is great for learning about layering colors with colored pencils and creating texture through hatching and cross-hatching techniques. It also provides practice in observing and representing the forms of rocks and the movement of water.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the rocks, water, and background trees.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the overall composition.
step 03
Begin layering colors on the rocks, starting with light browns and oranges, then adding darker shades for shadows.
step 04
Use hatching and cross-hatching to create texture on the rocks.
step 05
Apply blue and white colored pencils to represent the water, using curved lines to suggest movement.
step 06
Add green and blue to the trees in the background, using short, broken strokes to create a sense of foliage.
step 07
Refine the details and add highlights to the rocks and water.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a harmonious composition.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · white

secondary · yellow ochre · sap green · raw umber

Mix burnt sienna and ultramarine blue for darker rock shadows. Use white to lighten the blue for the water highlights. Layer yellow ochre and sap green for the background foliage.

techniques

·hatching
·cross-hatching
·layering
·color blending
·broken color

common pitfalls

→Overworking the colors and losing the freshness of the strokes.
→Not varying the pressure of the pencil, resulting in a flat, lifeless texture.
→Ignoring the direction of light and shadow, leading to a lack of depth.
→Failing to capture the movement of the water.

materials

surface · drawing paper

required

·Colored pencils (various browns, blues, greens, white)
·Drawing paper (smooth or slightly textured)
·Pencil (HB or 2B)
·Eraser
·Pencil sharpener
·Blending stump or tortillon

optional

·kneaded eraser
·ruler
·fixative spray

Experiment with different brands of colored pencils to find the ones you prefer. Use a light touch when layering colors to avoid making the paper too saturated.

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