plate no. 8175
A Road Near Arras (Cottages)
Camille Corot, 1858
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and loose brushwork to suggest detail rather than rendering every element precisely. Students will also learn to create a sense of depth through layering and value changes.
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, focusing on the placement of the road, cottages, and figures.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of light blue and white, establishing the overall tone.
- step 03
Establish the main areas of color for the road, fields, and foliage using broad strokes.
- step 04
Begin to define the shapes of the cottages and trees, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
- step 05
Add details to the figures, keeping them simple and suggestive.
- step 06
Refine the brushwork in the foreground, adding texture to the road and foliage.
- step 07
Soften edges and blend colors to create a sense of atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and form.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · cerulean blue · burnt sienna · sap green
Mix various shades of brown and green by combining raw umber, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue. Use white to lighten these colors and create highlights. Achieve atmospheric perspective by adding more blue to distant elements.
techniques
- ·dry brush
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·layering
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, painterly quality.
- →Creating too much contrast, which can flatten the image.
- →Failing to establish a clear sense of depth.
- →Using colors that are too saturated.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·cerulean blue oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·linseed oil
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use a canvas with a medium texture to allow for easier blending and layering. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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