plate no. 3115

A Breton Sunday

oil, canvasCloisonnismgenre paintingfigurestreeschurchlandscapeprocession

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to simplify forms and use color to create depth and mood. It also provides practice in depicting figures in a landscape setting.

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 figures and the church.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background and working forward.
step 03
Define the shapes of the trees and figures with darker values.
step 04
Add details to the figures, such as the white bonnets and dark clothing.
step 05
Refine the colors and values, paying attention to the overall harmony of the painting.
step 06
Add texture to the trees and ground with short, broken brushstrokes.
step 07
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors.
step 08
Add final details and highlights.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Mix browns and greens by combining burnt umber, raw sienna, ultramarine blue, and yellow ochre. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques

·blocking in
·broken brushstrokes
·glazing
·color mixing
·simplification of form

common pitfalls

→overworking the details
→using too many colors
→losing the overall composition
→not simplifying forms enough

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (flat and round)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·rags