plate no. 7880

The Waterfall

Edward Henry Potthast, 1908

oilImpressionismlandscapewaterfallrockswaterlandscapefoliagestream

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in impasto techniques and capturing the movement of water with expressive brushstrokes. It also provides practice in mixing colors to represent natural light and shadow on rocks and foliage.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 7 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of the waterfall, rocks, and water flow.
step 02
Establish the dark and light areas with thin washes of color, paying attention to the overall value structure.
step 03
Begin building up the texture of the rocks with thick, impasto brushstrokes, using a variety of colors to represent the different surfaces.
step 04
Paint the water with dynamic brushstrokes, capturing the movement and reflections with highlights and shadows.
step 05
Add details to the foliage and surrounding landscape, using smaller brushstrokes and varying colors to create depth and texture.
step 06
Refine the highlights and shadows on the waterfall, emphasizing the cascading water and its interaction with the rocks.
step 07
Adjust the overall color balance and value contrast to create a cohesive and visually appealing composition.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium yellow · viridian green · alizarin crimson

Mix greens by blending yellow ochre and ultramarine blue, adjust with cadmium yellow or viridian green. Create grays and browns by mixing burnt umber with ultramarine blue and titanium white. Use white to lighten values and create highlights.

techniques

·impasto
·broken color
·scumbling
·wet-on-dry layering
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overblending colors, which can flatten the texture and reduce the vibrancy of the painting.
→Neglecting the value structure, which can result in a lack of depth and dimension.
→Using too much detail in the background, which can distract from the focal point of the waterfall.
→Failing to capture the movement and energy of the water, which can make the painting feel static.