plate no. 1831
The Mill
Francois Boucher, 1751
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and creating depth through layering of tones. It also provides practice in rendering foliage and architectural details with loose brushwork.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the mill, bridge, and figures.
- step 02
Establish the sky with thin washes of blue and white, blending for soft clouds.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the mill and bridge with dark browns and grays.
- step 04
Add the foliage using various shades of green and brown, focusing on creating texture with short, broken strokes.
- step 05
Paint the water, reflecting the colors of the sky and surrounding landscape.
- step 06
Develop the details of the mill and bridge, adding highlights and shadows to create form.
- step 07
Paint the figures in the foreground, paying attention to their proportions and clothing.
- step 08
Add final details, such as the birds in the sky and the reflections in the water.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · Prussian blue · burnt sienna
secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · sap green · ivory black
Achieve the muted tones by mixing browns, blues, and whites. Use small amounts of red and yellow to add warmth to the browns and greens.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details, losing the loose, painterly feel.
- →Creating too much contrast, making the painting look harsh.
- →Failing to establish a clear sense of depth.
- →Using colors that are too saturated.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·Prussian blue oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 filbert brush
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·turpentine
- ·retouch varnish
- ·easel
Use a toned canvas to help establish the overall color harmony. Consider using a medium to thin the paint and improve flow.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
related artworks
Louis XV, King of France
Charles-Andre van Loo (Carle van Loo)
William James
Joshua Reynolds
Wooded Landscape with Gypsies, Evening
George Lambert
Head of a Scholar
Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo
Gentleman and Wife
William Williams
Portrait of Antoine Watteau
Rosalba Carriera
Portrait of Henriette of France, daughter of Louis XV
Jean-Étienne Liotard
Mr. John Williams
Benjamin West