plate no. 5755
View on the Dnipro River
Mykola Murashko, 1890
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and layering techniques to create depth. It also provides practice in rendering realistic foliage and tree bark textures.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees, cliff, and river.
- step 02
Establish the sky and water with thin washes of color, creating a sense of atmospheric perspective.
- step 03
Block in the large shapes of the cliff face, using light and shadow to define its form.
- step 04
Paint the trees, starting with the trunks and branches, then adding foliage with varied brushstrokes.
- step 05
Develop the foreground foliage, using a mix of greens, browns, and yellows to create texture and depth.
- step 06
Add details to the cliff face, such as cracks and crevices, using a dry brush technique.
- step 07
Refine the colors and values throughout the painting, paying attention to the overall harmony.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to the trees, foliage, and cliff face.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · raw umber · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · sap green
Mix ultramarine blue and raw umber with white to create the muted blues of the river and sky. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna to create the warm tones of the cliff and foliage. Mix sap green with other colors to create natural-looking greens.
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·layering
- ·dry brush
- ·scumbling
- ·blending
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details in the foreground.
- →Creating too much contrast in the distant elements.
- →Using too much pure color without mixing.
- →Ignoring the subtle value shifts in the cliff face.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·sap green oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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