plate no. 0470

Streamside

oilTonalismlandscapetreeswaterlandscapestreamfoliagegrass

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and using broken color techniques to represent foliage and water. It also provides practice in creating atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the stream, trees, and horizon line.
step 02
Establish the sky and distant hills with thin washes of color.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the trees and foliage with dark greens and browns.
step 04
Begin layering lighter greens and yellows onto the foliage to create highlights and texture.
step 05
Paint the water, using horizontal strokes to suggest movement and reflections.
step 06
Add details to the foreground, such as grasses and wildflowers.
step 07
Refine the values and colors throughout the painting, paying attention to atmospheric perspective.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to create a sense of realism.

color palette

primary · viridian green · yellow ochre · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

Mix greens by combining viridian green with yellow ochre and raw umber. Use white to lighten values and create highlights. Add small amounts of ultramarine blue to darken greens and create shadows.

techniques