plate no. 3774

Summer Night

oil, canvasRealismlandscapelaketreeslily padsreedswatersky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as rendering reflections on water and depicting foliage.

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 horizon line and the shapes of the land and water.
step 02
Establish the sky with a thin wash of light blue and grey.
step 03
Block in the dark masses of the trees and hills in the background using dark greens and browns.
step 04
Lay in the base color of the water, reflecting the sky and surrounding landscape.
step 05
Add the lily pads and reeds, varying their size and shape.
step 06
Create reflections in the water using lighter tones and broken brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the details of the foliage and add highlights to create depth.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values to create a sense of atmosphere.

color palette

primary · viridian green · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · yellow ochre

Mix greens by combining blue and yellow. Use white to lighten values and create atmospheric perspective. Muted tones are achieved by mixing complementary colors.

techniques