plate no. 9410

A Summer Haunt

oilTonalismlandscapetreesforeststreamfoliagelightlandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as practicing loose brushwork to suggest detail rather than rendering it precisely. Students will also learn to create a sense of light filtering through the trees.

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 the stream.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
step 03
Begin layering in the darker greens and browns of the foliage, using loose, broken brushstrokes.
step 04
Add the lighter greens and yellows to suggest sunlight filtering through the trees.
step 05
Paint the stream, using a mix of blues, greens, and whites to create the illusion of flowing water.
step 06
Refine the details of the trees, adding branches and texture with a small brush.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors as needed to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights to the water and foliage to create a sense of sparkle.

color palette

primary · viridian green · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cerulean blue · cadmium yellow · raw sienna

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, and adjust the value with white or umber. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber to create warm earth tones. Add small amounts of blue to greens to create cooler shadows.

techniques

·broken color
·layering
·scumbling
·wet-on-dry blending
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Creating too much contrast and losing the subtle tonal variations.
→Making the colors too saturated and losing the muted, atmospheric quality.
→Not establishing a clear value structure early on.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (viridian green, yellow ochre, burnt umber, titanium white, cerulean blue, cadmium yellow, raw sienna)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags