plate no. 1012

Waterfall, Strath Creek

oilRomanticismlandscapewaterfallrockstreeslandscapefoliagefigures

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering realistic textures of rocks and foliage, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective to create depth in a landscape. Students will also learn to capture the movement of water.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the waterfall and the surrounding hillsides.
step 02
Establish the dark and light values of the scene with a thin wash of burnt umber.
step 03
Begin blocking in the major color areas of the hillsides and foliage, using a mix of greens, browns, and yellows.
step 04
Start defining the rock formations with darker shadows and lighter highlights, paying attention to their texture.
step 05
Carefully paint the waterfall, using white and light blues to capture the movement and reflections of the water.
step 06
Add details to the foliage, using smaller brushes to create individual leaves and branches.
step 07
Paint the figures in the foreground, paying attention to their proportions and placement.
step 08
Refine the overall painting, adding final details and adjusting values as needed.

color palette

primary · viridian green · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Mix greens by combining viridian green with yellow ochre or burnt umber. Create lighter tones by adding titanium white to the base colors. Use ultramarine blue to darken greens and create shadows.

techniques