plate no. 1851

THE LAKE OF CSORBA IN JUNE

Marianne Stokes, 1909

oilImpressionismlandscapemountainslaketreescloudslandscapereflection

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as capturing reflections in water. It's good practice for simplifying complex natural forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the mountains, trees, and lake, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blue and white, creating soft cloud shapes.
step 03
Establish the base colors for the mountains, using greens, blues, and browns.
step 04
Paint the dark mass of trees, varying the shades of green and brown to create texture.
step 05
Begin working on the lake, reflecting the colors of the sky and mountains.
step 06
Add details to the mountains, such as highlights and shadows, to define their form.
step 07
Refine the reflections in the lake, adding subtle variations in color and tone.
step 08
Add final touches, such as highlights on the water and details in the foreground.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · raw sienna

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, and create muted tones by adding browns. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·broken color
·layering
·scumbling
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Making the reflections too literal and not capturing the subtle variations in color.
→Failing to establish a strong sense of depth in the landscape.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them to create harmonious tones.