plate no. 6107
Across to the Dandenongs
Tom Roberts, 1889
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as using visible brushstrokes to build texture and form.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, dividing the canvas into sky, hills, and foreground.
- step 02
Block in the sky with light blue and white, blending softly.
- step 03
Establish the distant hills with a muted blue-gray tone.
- step 04
Apply a base layer of green and yellow to the foreground field.
- step 05
Add darker greens and browns to create shadows and variations in the field.
- step 06
Use short, broken brushstrokes to suggest grass and vegetation.
- step 07
Paint the trees and bushes with dark greens and browns, adding highlights.
- step 08
Add final details like the water feature in the foreground.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt umber
secondary · sap green · raw sienna
Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Create muted tones by adding a touch of burnt umber to your colors.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
- ·wet-on-dry brushwork
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overblending colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
- →Neglecting to vary brushstrokes, creating a flat texture.
- →Ignoring atmospheric perspective, making the distant hills too vibrant.
- →Using too much detail in the background.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil or acrylic medium
optional
- ·easel
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
Use a limited palette to simplify color mixing and create a harmonious effect. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base color.
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