plate no. 9756

Summer Stream

oilRomanticismlandscapetreeswatercowslandscapeskyfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the subtle reflections in water. It also provides practice in rendering foliage with varied brushstrokes and color.

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 placement of the trees, water, and cows.
step 02
Establish the sky with broad strokes of blue, white, and gray, blending softly.
step 03
Block in the dark masses of the trees and foliage, paying attention to their overall shapes.
step 04
Add the water, using horizontal strokes to create a sense of reflection.
step 05
Paint the cows, focusing on their form and the way light hits them.
step 06
Develop the details of the foliage, using smaller brushes and varied greens.
step 07
Refine the reflections in the water, adding highlights and shadows.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values to create depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · viridian green · ultramarine blue · titanium white · burnt umber

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium yellow · raw sienna · ivory black

Mix greens by combining viridian green with yellow ochre or cadmium yellow. Create atmospheric grays by mixing ultramarine blue, burnt umber, and white. Achieve the water reflections by mirroring the colors above and adding white for highlights.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·dry brush texture
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·broken color

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall atmospheric effect.
→Making the colors too saturated and unnatural.
→Neglecting the importance of value contrast in creating depth.
→Failing to capture the subtle nuances of the water reflections.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (viridian green, ultramarine blue, titanium white, burnt umber, yellow ochre, cadmium yellow, raw sienna, ivory black)
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·rags