plate no. 5104

Summer Breeze

Robert Lewis Reid, 1915

oilImpressionismgenre paintingfiguredresslandscapetreesskyclouds

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as capturing the subtle nuances of light and shadow on fabric and foliage. It's a good exercise in impressionistic brushwork and color mixing.

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 figure's pose and the placement of the trees and horizon line.
step 02
Establish the sky with broad strokes of blue and white, blending the colors to create a soft, cloud-like effect.
step 03
Block in the general shapes of the trees and foliage using dark greens and blues, varying the tones to suggest depth.
step 04
Paint the figure's dress with light, broken brushstrokes, capturing the folds and highlights with white and pale tints.
step 05
Add details to the figure's face and hair, using subtle colors and soft blending to create a sense of realism.
step 06
Refine the landscape by adding highlights and shadows to the trees and grass, creating texture with short, choppy brushstrokes.
step 07
Adjust the overall color balance and value contrast to create a harmonious and atmospheric effect.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to enhance the sense of light and depth.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · titanium white · sap green

secondary · raw umber · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson

Achieve the sky colors by mixing cerulean blue with varying amounts of white. Create the greens by blending sap green with blues and yellows, and use raw umber to tone down the colors and create shadows.

techniques