MASTERCLASS
- Add reflections
Following the same pattern used in the early
part of the picture, I added horizontal marks
to create the reflection of the trees in the
water. The colours I used reflected the
cool-to-warm blues used for the trees.
An important part of the picture’s
composition is the sky and its reflection in
the water under the crown of the central
trees, so I was careful to recreate this as
I added marks to the water.
- Add greenery
The trick with the trees is to use cooler
greens for the more distant poplars so that
they appear further away and then use
warmer, deeper green for the nearer trees.
For the far trees, I mixed a green using
Cerulean Blue with a small amount of Winsor
Yellow and Titanium White. I painted them
using angled strokes as before, being careful
not to cover all of the previous layer of blue.
For the nearer trees, I painted some dark
green patches using French Ultramarine and
Winsor Yellow and then a warmer green
which was the previous mix with Titanium
White added.
- Deepen the colours
I painted the nearest riverbank using my size 4 brush and a mix of French Ultramarine and
Winsor Yellow, adding some Alizarin Crimson to the mix to create a warmer green that was
tinged with red. I left prominent brushstrokes to give an impression of bushes growing on
the riverbank.
I lightened the furthest parts of the riverbank using a lighter mix of French Ultramarine
and Winsor Yellow with a touch of Titanium White. I added the reflection in the water using
horizontal brushstrokes.- Finish the sky
I mixed a brown using Cadmium Red, French
Ultramarine, Winsor Yellow and a touch of
Titanium White to thinly paint the distant tree
trunks with the edge of my number 2 brush.
I finished off the sky by adding some thick,
impasto strokes to the clouds with the size 4
brush. I used Titanium White added to the
previous brown mix for some marks, then
Titanium White mixed with a little Winsor
Yellow for others. The marks were applied
in the same direction as the previous ones,
giving the impression of the clouds moving
across the sky. In places I tidied up the sky,
adding some colour seen through the trees.