plate no. 4167
Waterfall between the rocks
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand how to create depth using value and how to suggest detail with loose brushwork. It's also a good exercise in capturing the movement of water.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the rocks, waterfall, and horizon line with a light pencil.
- step 02
Establish the dark areas of the rocks and foliage with a thin wash of dark brown or umber.
- step 03
Block in the sky with a light blue-gray mixture, blending it softly.
- step 04
Begin building up the rocks with layers of browns, grays, and hints of green, paying attention to the light and shadow.
- step 05
Paint the waterfall using vertical strokes of white and light blue, suggesting movement and texture.
- step 06
Add details to the foliage with small, broken strokes of green and brown.
- step 07
Refine the highlights on the rocks and waterfall to create a sense of depth and realism.
- step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue
secondary · yellow ochre · sap green · raw sienna
Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining burnt umber, ultramarine blue, and titanium white. Use yellow ochre to warm up the browns and sap green to create natural greens.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·value studies
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, painterly feel.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure, resulting in a flat image.
- →Making the waterfall too uniform and lacking in variation.
- →Not creating enough contrast between the light and shadow areas.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use a medium-textured canvas to help create the rough texture of the rocks. Consider using a fast-drying medium to speed up the drying time.
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