plate no. 6273

Sutton Courtenay, (Summer on the River or The Wharf)

John Lavery, 1917

oilImpressionismgenre paintingriverboatfigurestreesswanswater reflections

some experience helpful

This painting provides practice in capturing light and reflections on water, as well as rendering figures in a naturalistic setting. Students will develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle tonal variations and capturing the essence of a scene rather than precise detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the composition, focusing on the placement of the boat, figures, and horizon line.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: the water, the trees, the boat, and the sky.
step 03
Develop the values in the water, paying attention to the reflections of the trees and sky.
step 04
Add details to the boat and figures, focusing on capturing their forms and gestures.
step 05
Refine the foliage in the trees, using broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Add the swans and their reflections.
step 07
Adjust the overall color balance and values to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to bring the painting to life.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · sap green · raw sienna

Achieve the muted greens by mixing yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, and a touch of burnt umber. Use white to lighten values and create highlights. Mix red and umber for the boat's color.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·broken color
·scumbling
·glazing
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic effect.
→Using colors that are too saturated and not capturing the subtle tonal variations.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Incorrect proportions of the boat and figures

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·#4 round brush
·#6 flat brush
·palette knife
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·oil paints (burnt umber, yellow ochre, titanium white, ultramarine blue, cadmium red, sap green, raw sienna)