plate no. 7436
The Nile in Juba
Iman Shaggag, 2015
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing reflections and creating depth using color temperature and value. It's also a good exercise in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and colors.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the horizon line, the shoreline, and the large rocks.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of light gray.
- step 03
Establish the dark masses of the trees using a mix of dark green and brown.
- step 04
Paint the water with horizontal strokes, varying the color from light gray to green and blue.
- step 05
Add the reflections of the trees and rocks in the water, using slightly darker and more muted tones.
- step 06
Define the rocks with highlights and shadows, using a mix of browns, purples, and oranges.
- step 07
Add details to the foliage with short, broken brushstrokes.
- step 08
Refine the edges and add final highlights to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
color palette
primary · titanium white · viridian green · burnt umber
secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson
Mix greens by combining viridian green with cadmium yellow or burnt umber. Achieve grays by mixing titanium white with small amounts of ultramarine blue and burnt umber. Create the rock colors by mixing burnt umber, alizarin crimson, and titanium white.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic effect.
- →Making the reflections too bright or too sharp.
- →Not varying the color temperature and value enough to create depth.
- →Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·viridian green oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·cadmium yellow oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 6, 8)
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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