Autumn at Cenade by Viorel Marginean

plate no. 4721

Autumn at Cenade

Viorel Marginean, 1973

oilExpressionismlandscapelandscapetreeshillsautumnleavesfoliage

suitable for beginners

Recreating this painting will help students practice simplified shapes and color blocking, as well as creating depth through layering and subtle color variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

2

brushwork visibility

3

value contrast

2

compositional simplicity

3

study guide

est. 4 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the hills and the overall composition.
step 02
Block in the background sky color with a thin wash.
step 03
Paint the green areas of the hills, varying the green slightly for depth.
step 04
Add the bare trees using thin lines, varying the thickness and direction.
step 05
Paint the red leaves with a flat color.
step 06
Add subtle highlights and shadows to the hills and leaves.
step 07
Refine the details of the trees and leaves.
step 08
Add any final touches and adjustments.

color palette

primary · light green · black · red

secondary · light grey · dark green

Mix different shades of green by adding small amounts of black, white, or yellow to the base green. Achieve the red by mixing a warm red with a touch of orange.

techniques

·flat color application
·line drawing
·layering
·color mixing
·simplified shapes

common pitfalls

→overworking the details
→making the trees too uniform
→not varying the green enough
→making the red too bright

materials

surface · canvas board

required

·acrylic paints
·canvas board
·round brushes (small and medium)
·palette
·water
·paper towels

optional

·palette knife
·easel
·ruler

Use a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process. Consider using a slightly textured canvas to add visual interest.

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