plate no. 6734
Alberi
Piet Mondrian, 1908
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in impasto techniques and understanding how to build form with visible brushstrokes. It's also a good exercise in capturing light and shadow in a muted color palette.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the trees and the distant building.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of light ochre and white.
- step 03
Establish the dark areas of the tree trunks and foliage with a mix of burnt umber and green.
- step 04
Apply thick impasto strokes to represent the leaves and blossoms, using a mix of white, yellow ochre, and touches of green.
- step 05
Add highlights to the foliage with pure white and light yellow.
- step 06
Define the shapes of the building in the background with muted greens and browns.
- step 07
Add details to the foreground with short, broken brushstrokes to suggest grass and flowers.
- step 08
Refine the overall composition and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber
secondary · sap green · raw sienna
Achieve the muted greens by mixing yellow ochre, sap green, and a touch of burnt umber. Use white to lighten the colors and create highlights.
techniques
- ·impasto
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overblending the colors, which can result in a muddy appearance.
- →Not using enough paint for the impasto technique.
- →Ignoring the underlying structure of the trees.
- →Making the background too detailed, which can distract from the main subject.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·sap green oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·palette
- ·assorted flat brushes
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·painting medium
Use a canvas with a medium texture to enhance the impasto effect. Consider using a fast-drying medium to speed up the drying time.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
related guides
in this vein
