plate no. 1126

Summer Hotel

William James Glackens, 1909

oil, canvasNew Realismlandscapebuildingwaterskycloudspathwelllandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in impressionistic brushwork and color mixing to capture light and atmosphere. It also provides practice in creating depth and perspective through color and value.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, including the building, water line, and the well.
step 02
Establish the main color blocks for the sky, water, and land using thin washes.
step 03
Begin building up texture with short, broken brushstrokes, focusing on the direction of light.
step 04
Mix and apply various shades of blue and green to represent the water, reflecting the sky.
step 05
Add details to the building, using darker values to create shadows and lighter values for highlights.
step 06
Paint the well and the path, paying attention to the variations in color and texture.
step 07
Add the clouds with soft, blended brushstrokes, using white and light blue.
step 08
Refine the details and add final touches to enhance the overall impression.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · viridian green · cadmium yellow

Mix blues and whites for the sky and water, adding touches of yellow and green for variation. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber for the building and path, mixing with white to create lighter tones.

techniques