plate no. 2455

The Old Church by the River

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscaperivertreeschurchbuildingslandscapereflections

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing reflections in water and creating depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in rendering foliage and architectural details with loose, impressionistic brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the church, trees, and river.
step 02
Establish the sky and background colors with thin washes.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the church and buildings, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 04
Paint the river using horizontal brushstrokes and varying shades of blue, green, and gray to create the illusion of movement and reflections.
step 05
Add the trees, starting with the larger trunks and branches, then adding smaller twigs and leaves.
step 06
Develop the foreground details, such as the grass, flowers, and wooden structure.
step 07
Refine the details of the church and buildings, adding windows, doors, and other architectural elements.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · payne's gray

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue, and adjust the value and intensity with white or burnt umber. Create the water reflections by using a slightly darker and desaturated version of the colors in the scene above.

techniques