plate no. 7782

Autumn

Ivan Marchuk, 1994

oilMagic Realismlandscapehousetreesgrassapplelandscapeautumn

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering, creating texture with brushstrokes, and understanding how to build up complex compositions from simple elements. It also encourages careful observation of color variations in seemingly monochromatic subjects.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the house, trees, and apples, focusing on their relative positions.
step 02
Apply a thin wash of a neutral color (e.g., raw umber) to establish the overall tone and block in the major areas.
step 03
Begin layering the branches and grass with short, broken brushstrokes, using variations of browns, yellows, and whites.
step 04
Gradually build up the texture and detail in the trees and grass, adding darker values in the shadows and lighter values in the highlights.
step 05
Paint the house with a base of white, then add subtle shadows and highlights to give it form.
step 06
Paint the apples with a base of red, then add highlights and shadows to give them a rounded appearance.
step 07
Refine the details of the branches and grass, paying attention to the direction and thickness of the strokes.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red · burnt sienna · payne's gray

Achieve the various browns and yellows by mixing raw umber, yellow ochre, and titanium white in different proportions. Use Payne's gray to create subtle shadows and darker tones. Mix cadmium red with a touch of burnt sienna for the apples.

techniques