plate no. 5079

Autumn

Arthur Lowe, 1916

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscapetreeslandscapeforestmeadowpathlight

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and creating depth through subtle value and color changes. It also provides practice in rendering complex textures with relatively loose brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main shapes: the path, the tree lines, and the horizon.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of diluted brown or gray, paying attention to the light source.
step 03
Block in the main color areas: the greens of the meadow, the browns and greens of the trees, and the light in the distance.
step 04
Start building up the texture of the trees with small, broken brushstrokes, varying the colors slightly to create depth.
step 05
Add details to the foreground, such as individual blades of grass and the fence, but keep them soft and impressionistic.
step 06
Refine the light and shadow, adding highlights to the trees and meadow to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 07
Soften edges and blend colors where necessary to create a sense of unity and harmony.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · sap green · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow light · alizarin crimson

Achieve the muted greens by mixing sap green with yellow ochre and a touch of burnt umber. Create atmospheric perspective by adding white and a touch of blue to distant colors.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·broken color
·scumbling
·glazing
·wet-on-dry layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic feel.
→Creating too much contrast and flattening the image.
→Failing to establish a clear light source.
→Using colors that are too saturated.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt umber, sap green, titanium white, ultramarine blue)
·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·palette
·palette knife

optional

·medium gloss
·easel
·rags

Use a canvas with a medium texture to allow for better paint adhesion and blending. Consider using a toned canvas (e.g., a light brown or gray) to help establish the overall value structure.

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