plate no. 9820

The Willow

Henri Martin, 1910

oil, canvasDivisionismlandscaperivertreeslandscapewaterfoliagesky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing for atmospheric perspective and applying broken color techniques to create texture and light effects. It also provides practice in capturing reflections in water and depicting natural forms with loose, expressive brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, indicating the river's path, the horizon line, and the placement of trees and foliage.
step 02
Establish the sky with light blues and whites, blending softly.
step 03
Block in the distant landscape with muted purples and greens, creating a sense of depth.
step 04
Paint the river using various shades of blue, green, and white, applying short, broken brushstrokes to suggest movement and reflections.
step 05
Add the trees, using dark browns and greens for the trunks and branches, and lighter greens and yellows for the foliage.
step 06
Develop the foreground foliage with a variety of greens, yellows, and browns, using thicker paint and more visible brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the reflections in the water, paying attention to the colors and shapes of the surrounding objects.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to enhance the overall impression of light and texture.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · sap green · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Achieve the various greens by mixing sap green with yellow ochre and titanium white. Create the muted purples for the distant hills by blending alizarin crimson with ultramarine blue and white. Use white to lighten and cool the colors for the sky and water.

techniques

·broken color
·pointillism
·wet-on-wet blending
·scumbling
·layering

common pitfalls

→over-blending colors, resulting in a muddy appearance
→neglecting the importance of light and shadow in creating depth
→failing to capture the movement and texture of the water
→making the brushstrokes too uniform and predictable

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, sap green, yellow ochre, titanium white, burnt umber, cadmium yellow, alizarin crimson)
·assorted round and flat brushes
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·rags