plate no. 3657
The lakelet shadows
Soltan Soltanlı, 2018
suitable for beginners
This painting is great for practicing simplified forms and color mixing to create different shades of green. It also helps develop skills in depicting reflections and basic animal anatomy.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the trees, ponds, and birds, focusing on their relative sizes and placement.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, and the ground with a bright green.
- step 03
Add the basic shapes of the trees using a darker green, creating a rounded form.
- step 04
Paint the ponds with a light blue, adding darker tones for shadows and reflections.
- step 05
Begin adding details to the trees by dabbing different shades of green to create texture.
- step 06
Paint the ducks and herons, starting with their basic shapes and adding details like feathers and beaks.
- step 07
Add highlights to the trees, water, and birds to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed to match the original painting.
color palette
primary · light blue · bright green · dark green
secondary · brown · gray · white
Mix different shades of green by combining primary green with yellow, blue, and a touch of brown. Create lighter blues by adding white to the primary blue.
techniques
- ·dabbing
- ·layering
- ·color mixing
- ·simplified forms
- ·basic animal anatomy
common pitfalls
- →Overcomplicating the details of the trees.
- →Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
- →Not paying attention to the relative sizes and proportions of the elements.
- →Failing to create enough contrast between light and shadow.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic paints (light blue, bright green, dark green, brown, gray, white)
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brush
- ·palette
- ·water container
- ·paper towels
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·easel
- ·medium gloss
Use good quality acrylic paints for best results. A canvas size of 16x20 inches is recommended.
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