plate no. 5298
Arbres
Mario Prassinos, 1984
some experience helpful
This painting helps develop skills in creating texture with splattering and dry brushing, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective using a limited palette. Students can learn to create depth and form using only value differences.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Prepare the canvas with a light neutral tone.
- step 02
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and placement of the trees.
- step 03
Begin applying the darker brown tones to the tree trunks and branches, using a dry brush technique to create texture.
- step 04
Use a splattering technique with diluted brown paint to create the foliage and ground texture.
- step 05
Gradually build up the darker areas, focusing on creating depth and shadow.
- step 06
Use a clean brush to soften some edges and blend areas for a more atmospheric effect.
- step 07
Add final details and refine the shapes of the trees.
- step 08
Allow to dry completely.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw umber · titanium white
secondary · ivory black
Mix burnt umber with varying amounts of white to create different shades of brown. Dilute the paint with water or a medium for splattering.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·splattering
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·value study
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overdoing the splattering, resulting in a muddy or unclear image.
- →Not creating enough value contrast, making the painting appear flat.
- →Losing the basic shapes of the trees in the texture.
- →Using too much paint, which will obscure the texture.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil or painting medium
- ·rags
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·easel
- ·medium gloss
Use a canvas with a smooth surface to allow for better splattering. Experiment with different brushes to achieve various textures.
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