plate no. 1165

The Path by the Stream

John Henderson, 1912

oilRealismlandscapetreesstreamlandscapefiguresbuildingspath

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the texture of foliage with loose brushwork. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes and creating a sense of depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees, stream, and buildings.
step 02
Establish the sky and distant background with thin washes of color.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the trees, using darker values for the shadows and lighter values for the highlights.
step 04
Add details to the trees, such as branches and leaves, using a variety of brushstrokes.
step 05
Paint the stream, paying attention to the reflections and the flow of the water.
step 06
Add the figures and buildings, keeping them simple and understated.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · sap green · raw umber · titanium white · cerulean blue

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ivory black

Mix greens by combining sap green, raw umber, and yellow ochre. Use white to lighten values and blue to create atmospheric perspective in the distance. Burnt sienna and raw umber create earth tones.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·dry brush texture
·atmospheric perspective
·broken color
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, painterly quality.
→Creating too much contrast and making the painting look harsh.
→Failing to establish a clear focal point.
→Not paying attention to the values and creating a flat, uninteresting painting.