plate no. 6755

Vodenica

Nadežda Petrović, 1901

oilPost-Impressionismlandscaperivertreesbuildingsskywatermill

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the texture of foliage and water with expressive brushstrokes. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the watermill, buildings, and trees.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
step 03
Block in the sky with light grays and whites, blending softly.
step 04
Paint the distant trees and buildings with darker values, using broken brushstrokes to suggest foliage.
step 05
Develop the watermill and foreground details, adding texture and highlights to the water's surface.
step 06
Refine the shapes and values of the trees, adding darker shadows and lighter highlights.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to the water and buildings, paying attention to reflected light.
step 08
Review and adjust the overall composition, ensuring a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · raw sienna

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow

Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth tones with white and small amounts of blue and yellow. Use more white for highlights and more umber for shadows.

techniques