plate no. 8255
The Water Lily Pond
Claude Monet, 1899
experienced study
Students would develop color mixing skills for creating atmospheric effects and learn broken color technique. This study teaches how to capture light and movement on water through visible brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
2
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch basic composition with light pencil, marking water surface and lily pad clusters
- step 02
Block in background water areas with horizontal strokes using blue-green mixtures
- step 03
Add mid-tone water reflections with vertical and diagonal brushstrokes
- step 04
Paint lily pads with yellow-green base colors using broad, confident strokes
- step 05
Add lily flowers with thick impasto technique using reds, pinks, and purples
- step 06
Develop water reflections by dragging colors vertically through wet paint
- step 07
Add final highlights and texture details with palette knife and small brush
- step 08
Soften harsh edges selectively while maintaining overall broken color effect
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · alizarin crimson · viridian green · burnt sienna · dioxazine purple
Mix water colors by combining blues with yellow ochre and white. Create lily pad greens by mixing yellow with small amounts of blue and burnt sienna.
techniques
- ·broken color application
- ·impasto for flowers
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·directional brushstrokes
- ·color temperature variation
common pitfalls
- →overblending colors
- →making water too uniform
- →painting lily pads too detailed
- →using colors straight from tube
materials
surface · stretched canvas 16x20 or canvas board
required
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·#10 flat brush
- ·#2 round brush
- ·palette knife
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·cadmium yellow oil paint
- ·alizarin crimson oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·#12 flat brush
- ·viridian green oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
Use plenty of paint to achieve the thick impasto quality. A toned canvas in light gray or ochre would help establish mid-tones quickly.
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