plate no. 4379

The Little Hotel

Joseph DeCamp, 1903

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscapewaterbuildingstreesreflectionlandscapesky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle variations and learn to capture reflections in water using broken brushstrokes. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, trees, and shoreline, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the overall composition.
step 03
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and water, using thin washes.
step 04
Build up the colors in the buildings and trees, layering different hues and values.
step 05
Focus on capturing the reflections in the water, using horizontal brushstrokes and broken color.
step 06
Add details to the buildings and trees, such as windows, branches, and foliage.
step 07
Refine the edges and values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall effect.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium yellow · raw sienna · viridian

Achieve the warm tones by mixing burnt umber, yellow ochre, and white. Create the water reflections by mixing the sky colors with burnt umber and white to create muted tones.

techniques