plate no. 0772
An Avenue in Kastrup
Theodor Philipsen, 1891
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the subtle color variations in light and shadow. It also provides practice in rendering complex organic shapes like trees.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the perspective of the road and fence.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue wash, allowing for subtle variations in tone.
- step 03
Establish the horizon line and the distant buildings with muted reds and browns.
- step 04
Paint the road using cool grays and blues, paying attention to the shadows cast by the trees.
- step 05
Add the trees, starting with the trunks and then building up the branches with thin, broken lines.
- step 06
Paint the fence, using a light gray and adding shadows to create depth.
- step 07
Add the chickens and other details, using small brushstrokes and muted colors.
- step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light
Mix various shades of gray by combining ultramarine blue, burnt umber, and titanium white. Use yellow ochre and cadmium red light to create the warm tones in the buildings and chickens.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic effect.
- →Creating too much contrast, which can flatten the image.
- →Failing to establish a clear sense of perspective.
- →Making the colors too saturated.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 filbert brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-grain canvas to allow for texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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