plate no. 6472
Willow by the pond
Aleksey Savrasov, 1872
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing reflections in water. It also provides practice in creating soft, blended transitions between colors and values.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the horizon line, trees, water, and foreground.
- step 02
Establish the sky color with a thin wash of blue and yellow, blending them softly.
- step 03
Block in the large shapes of the trees with a mixture of browns, oranges, and yellows.
- step 04
Paint the water with horizontal strokes, reflecting the colors of the sky and trees.
- step 05
Add details to the foreground, including the bank and any vegetation.
- step 06
Refine the shapes and values of the trees, adding highlights and shadows.
- step 07
Add the small details of the animals.
- step 08
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white · cerulean blue
secondary · raw sienna · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson
Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors. Use white to lighten values and create subtle gradations.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early
- →Creating harsh lines instead of soft transitions
- →Not paying attention to the reflected colors in the water
- →Ignoring atmospheric perspective and failing to create depth
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cerulean blue oil paint
- ·#6 round brush
- ·#4 filbert brush
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-tooth canvas for better texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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