plate no. 6677

The Flood Gate

Homer Watson, 1901

oilRealismlandscapetreeswaterfigureskyanimalslandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the effects of light on different surfaces. It also provides practice in depicting figures and animals within a landscape setting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees, water, and figure.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of dark gray and brown, establishing the overall mood.
step 03
Establish the dark masses of the trees, using a mix of greens, browns, and blues.
step 04
Paint the water, capturing the movement and reflections with varying shades of blue, green, and white.
step 05
Add the figure and animals, paying attention to their proportions and placement within the scene.
step 06
Refine the details of the trees, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 07
Add details to the foreground, including the vegetation and the edge of the land.
step 08
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a cohesive and atmospheric effect.

color palette

primary · viridian green · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Achieve the various greens by mixing viridian green with yellow ochre and white. Use burnt umber and ultramarine blue to create dark grays and browns for the sky and shadows.

techniques

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

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details, resulting in a stiff and unnatural look.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
→Ignoring the importance of value contrast.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (viridian green, burnt umber, titanium white, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags