plate no. 9235
Spring in Finland
Arkady Rylov, 1905
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the rocks, water, and trees.
- step 02
Establish the horizon line and the overall perspective.
- step 03
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, water, and background trees.
- step 04
Begin layering colors on the rocks, using a variety of greens, browns, and grays to create texture and form.
- step 05
Add the details of the water, using short, choppy brushstrokes to suggest movement and reflections.
- step 06
Paint the trees, focusing on their verticality and the bare branches.
- step 07
Refine the details and add highlights to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red · sap green
Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Achieve the rock colors by blending burnt umber, yellow ochre, white, and small amounts of blue or red for variation. The water is a mix of ultramarine blue and white, with touches of burnt umber for depth.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brush
- ·layering
- ·impasto
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Creating mud by overmixing colors.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Not capturing the movement of the water.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
- ·palette knife
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
- ·mineral spirits (for cleaning brushes)
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·palette paper
Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the brushwork. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
