plate no. 7587
The Summer's Day
Arnold Böcklin, 1881
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective, color mixing for natural light, and rendering reflections in water. It also provides practice in depicting figures within a landscape setting.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees, water, and figures.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a base layer of blue, gradually adding subtle variations in tone.
- step 03
Establish the dark values of the trees and water, paying attention to the shapes and forms.
- step 04
Begin layering the greens in the grass, using a variety of shades and textures to create depth.
- step 05
Add the reflections in the water, ensuring they align with the objects above.
- step 06
Paint the figures, focusing on capturing their poses and proportions.
- step 07
Refine the details of the trees, adding highlights and shadows to create a sense of volume.
- step 08
Add the small white flowers in the grass to create texture and detail.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · viridian green · yellow ochre · burnt umber
secondary · titanium white · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson
Achieve the sky's subtle variations by mixing ultramarine blue with white and small amounts of yellow ochre. Create the greens by blending viridian green with yellow ochre and white, adjusting the ratios for different shades.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·rendering reflections
- ·figure drawing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details, especially in the trees and grass.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective.
- →Inaccurately rendering the reflections in the water.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the sky and landscape.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·painting rags
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base color.
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