plate no. 0010

The Thames, Basildon, Berkshire

oilRealismlandscapelandscaperivercowstreeswater liliessky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering reflections in water. Students will also learn to create depth using subtle value and color changes.

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 horizon line, river, trees, and cows.
step 02
Establish the sky with a thin wash of muted blues and grays, blending smoothly.
step 03
Block in the distant hills and trees using varying shades of green and brown, paying attention to atmospheric perspective.
step 04
Paint the river with horizontal strokes, capturing the reflections of the sky and surrounding landscape.
step 05
Add the lily pads and flowers in the foreground, varying their size and shape.
step 06
Roughly block in the cows, paying attention to their proportions and placement.
step 07
Refine the details of the trees, adding branches and foliage with varied brushstrokes.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to the cows and lily pads to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · Prussian blue

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ivory black

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors and adding white. Use raw umber and Prussian blue to create a range of grays and greens. Add yellow ochre to warm up the greens and browns.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·wet-on-wet blending
·dry brush texture
·scumbling
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the distant landscape, losing the sense of depth.
→Making the reflections too sharp and defined, instead of soft and blurred.
→Using colors that are too bright and saturated, disrupting the overall harmony.
→Not paying attention to the subtle value changes in the water and sky.