plate no. 2481

Study for The Leaping Horse (View on the Stour)

oil, canvasRomanticismlandscapelandscaperivertreescloudsbridgebuildings

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing atmospheric perspective and using loose brushwork to suggest detail rather than rendering it precisely. It also provides practice in mixing muted colors and creating a sense of depth through value changes.

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 horizon line, river, trees, and buildings.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar neutral color.
step 03
Block in the sky with broad strokes, capturing the shapes of the clouds and the overall light.
step 04
Paint the distant landscape with lighter, cooler colors to create atmospheric perspective.
step 05
Develop the trees and foliage with varied greens and browns, using broken brushstrokes to suggest texture.
step 06
Paint the river with horizontal strokes, reflecting the colors of the sky and surrounding landscape.
step 07
Add details to the buildings and bridge, keeping them relatively simple and understated.
step 08
Refine the highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow light · ivory black

Mix muted greens by combining yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, and a touch of burnt umber. Achieve atmospheric perspective by adding white to colors for distant objects.

techniques