plate no. 9613

Waterfalls at Subiaco

oil, canvasNeoclassicismlandscapemountainswaterfalllandscapefigurestreesarchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmospheric perspective, as well as rendering realistic textures for natural elements like water and foliage.

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 mountains, waterfall, and figures.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blue, gradually adding subtle variations in tone.
step 03
Establish the base colors for the mountains and hills, using muted greens and browns.
step 04
Paint the waterfall, focusing on capturing the movement and texture of the water.
step 05
Add details to the architecture and foliage, using smaller brushes.
step 06
Paint the figures in the foreground, paying attention to their proportions and clothing.
step 07
Refine the details and add highlights to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final glazes to unify the colors and create a sense of atmosphere.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light · viridian

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and viridian. Create muted tones by adding a touch of raw umber to your colors. Achieve atmospheric perspective by lightening and desaturating colors as they recede into the distance.

techniques