plate no. 6402

Slapping the Water

oilPost-Impressionismgenre paintingfigureslandscapewatertreesrural sceneboats

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures in motion and creating a sense of depth through layering and color variation. It also offers practice in loose, expressive brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and landscape elements.
step 02
Establish the background colors, starting with the sky and distant land.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figures, using simplified forms and colors.
step 04
Add details to the figures, such as clothing and facial features.
step 05
Define the landscape elements, including the water, trees, and fields.
step 06
Refine the colors and values, creating depth and dimension.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the form of the figures and landscape.
step 08
Apply final touches and adjustments to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Achieve the earthy tones by mixing raw umber and burnt sienna with white. Use small amounts of red and blue to create variations in the shadows and highlights.

techniques