plate no. 4180

The River

Elmer Bischoff, 1953

oilExpressionismlandscaperivertreeslandscaperocksforestfoliage

some experience helpful

This painting is great for practicing simplified shapes and color blocking. Students can learn to suggest form and depth with minimal detail and expressive brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the river, trees, and background foliage using light pencil lines.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: white for the river, dark green for the trees, and lighter greens for the background.
step 03
Add darker values to the rocks in the river and the shadows in the trees to create depth.
step 04
Introduce secondary colors to the foliage to add visual interest and variation.
step 05
Use short, directional brushstrokes to suggest the movement of the water in the river.
step 06
Refine the edges of the shapes, softening some and leaving others sharp for contrast.
step 07
Add final details, such as the small branches and highlights on the water.
step 08
Step back and adjust the overall composition and color balance as needed.

color palette

primary · titanium white · viridian green · burnt umber

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium yellow · ultramarine blue

Mix greens by combining viridian with yellow ochre or cadmium yellow. Use burnt umber to darken the greens and create shadows. Add small amounts of ultramarine blue to the white for the cooler tones in the river.

techniques