plate no. 6914

After the Rain

oilTonalismlandscapetreeslandscapepathskycloudswater

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and broken color techniques to create depth and texture. It also encourages observation of subtle color variations in nature.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the path and tree lines.
step 02
Establish the sky with light blues and creams, blending softly.
step 03
Block in the distant trees with muted greens and browns, using a lighter value.
step 04
Paint the foreground trees with darker, richer browns and greens, adding texture with visible brushstrokes.
step 05
Create the path with a mix of browns, creams, and grays, suggesting puddles with subtle blue and white highlights.
step 06
Add details to the foreground grass with short, broken strokes of green and yellow.
step 07
Refine the clouds and highlights to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · sap green

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Mix greens by combining sap green with yellow ochre or raw umber. Achieve atmospheric perspective by lightening and muting colors as they recede into the distance.

techniques

·broken color
·atmospheric perspective
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·wet-on-dry

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impression.
→Using colors that are too saturated, which can flatten the image.
→Ignoring the subtle value changes that create depth.
→Making the brushstrokes too uniform, which can look unnatural.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints (raw umber, titanium white, sap green, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, burnt sienna)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette knife
·rags