plate no. 0996

Thunderstorm

Alfred William Finch, 1918

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapelaketreesskycloudslandscapewater

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and capturing the atmospheric effects of light and weather. It also provides practice in using visible brushstrokes to build texture and form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, indicating the horizon line, the shapes of the land masses, and the cloud formations.
step 02
Block in the sky with broad strokes of blue, white, and touches of yellow and pink where the sun breaks through.
step 03
Establish the dark mass of the distant trees using a mix of dark greens and browns.
step 04
Paint the water with horizontal strokes, reflecting the colors of the sky and the surrounding landscape.
step 05
Add the foreground elements, such as the grassy bank and the small islands, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 06
Develop the reflections in the water, paying attention to their distorted and elongated shapes.
step 07
Refine the details of the clouds and the trees, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 08
Add final touches to the overall composition, adjusting the colors and values as needed.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · viridian green

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · cadmium yellow

Mix various shades of green by combining blue and yellow. Achieve the atmospheric sky by blending blue and white with small amounts of yellow and pink. Use burnt umber to darken greens and blues.

techniques