plate no. 5849
A Hillside Village in Provence, France
Henry Herbert La Thangue, 1914
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and layering techniques to create depth. It also provides practice in capturing the texture of foliage with loose brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, including the horizon line, the village outline, and the placement of the trees and figure.
- step 02
Establish the sky with a thin wash of blues and grays, blending the colors to create soft clouds.
- step 03
Block in the distant hills using muted greens and blues, focusing on creating a sense of depth through color and value.
- step 04
Begin layering the foliage in the foreground with a mix of greens, browns, and yellows, using loose, broken brushstrokes.
- step 05
Add details to the village, focusing on the shapes of the buildings and the play of light and shadow.
- step 06
Paint the figure with simple shapes and colors, paying attention to the folds of the clothing and the overall form.
- step 07
Refine the details of the trees, adding branches and leaves with small, precise brushstrokes.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension throughout the painting.
color palette
primary · sap green · raw umber · cerulean blue · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue
Achieve the muted greens by mixing sap green with raw umber and titanium white. Create atmospheric perspective by adding blue to the greens and browns for distant elements.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details, which can flatten the image.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth through color and value.
- →Using colors that are too saturated, which can make the painting look unnatural.
- →Not varying the brushstrokes enough to create texture.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
- ·odorless mineral spirits (if using oil paints)
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·rags
Use a medium-grain canvas to allow for texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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