plate no. 8101

A Beech Wood, Malvern, Worcestershire

oilRealismgenre paintingtreesforestfigureslandscapeautumnwoods

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as rendering realistic tree bark textures and subtle tonal variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees and figures.
step 02
Establish the overall tonal values with a thin wash of burnt umber.
step 03
Block in the sky with a light grey-beige mixture.
step 04
Begin layering colors on the trees, starting with darker browns and greys, then adding highlights.
step 05
Paint the foliage on the ground with a mix of browns, greens, and yellows, using short, broken strokes.
step 06
Add details to the figures, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 07
Refine the details of the tree bark and branches.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · payne's grey · sap green

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors and adding white or grey to dull the intensity. Create the tree bark texture by layering different shades of brown and grey.

techniques

·layering
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·tonal painting
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
→Not paying attention to the light and shadow on the figures.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, yellow ochre, payne's grey, sap green)
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·rags