plate no. 9263

A Turn in the Road at La Roche-Guyon

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismlandscapevillagebuildingsroadhillstreessky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle variations in light and shadow, as well as loose brushwork to suggest form and texture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of the buildings, road, and hills.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and the road, using thin washes.
step 03
Begin layering colors to define the forms of the buildings and hills, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Add details to the trees and foliage, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 05
Refine the shapes and edges of the buildings and other elements.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Check for overall balance and harmony, and make any necessary adjustments.
step 08
Let dry and add a varnish coat.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · viridian green · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and viridian green. Achieve the off-white tones by mixing titanium white with small amounts of yellow ochre and burnt sienna.

techniques