plate no. 7500

The Waterfall, Shore's Mill, Tennessee

Ernest Lawson, 1910

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscapewaterfallrivertreeslandscapefoliagesky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in impressionistic brushwork and color mixing to represent light and movement in nature. It will also improve their understanding of atmospheric perspective and composition.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, indicating the waterfall, river, and surrounding foliage.
step 02
Establish the sky with a thin wash of muted blues and grays.
step 03
Block in the general shapes of the waterfall with white and light blues, focusing on the overall form rather than details.
step 04
Add darker values to the rocks and shadows around the waterfall using blues, greens, and browns.
step 05
Paint the river with horizontal strokes of greens, blues, and grays, suggesting the flow of water.
step 06
Develop the foliage with short, broken brushstrokes of various greens, browns, and yellows.
step 07
Add details to the trees and branches, using thin lines and small dabs of color.
step 08
Refine the highlights and shadows throughout the painting to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt umber · sap green · cadmium orange

Mix muted greens by combining yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, and a touch of burnt umber. Achieve the gray sky by mixing white, blue, and a small amount of orange.

techniques