plate no. 5543

Autumn

oilImpressionismlandscapetreeslandscapeautumnbirch treesfoliagewoods

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, and in capturing the essence of a scene with loose, expressive brushstrokes. It also provides practice in depicting the unique characteristics of birch trees.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees and the horizon line.
step 02
Apply a thin wash of burnt umber or raw sienna as an underpainting to establish the overall tonal values.
step 03
Block in the background with dark greens and browns, using loose brushstrokes to suggest foliage.
step 04
Add the autumn colors (reds, oranges, yellows) to the background, layering them over the darks.
step 05
Paint the birch trees with white and gray, paying attention to the variations in tone and the texture of the bark.
step 06
Add dark markings to the birch trees using a fine brush and a mix of burnt umber and black.
step 07
Refine the details of the foreground, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium red · yellow ochre

secondary · sap green · black · raw sienna

Mix various shades of brown by combining burnt umber with white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Achieve the autumn foliage colors by mixing cadmium red with yellow ochre and a touch of burnt umber. Use white to lighten the colors and create highlights.

techniques

·dry brush texture
·layering
·broken color
·scumbling
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the loose, expressive brushstrokes.
→Making the colors too uniform and lacking variation.
→Not paying attention to the tonal values and creating a flat, lifeless image.
→Getting the proportions of the trees wrong.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 or 16x20)
·oil paints (burnt umber, titanium white, cadmium red, yellow ochre, sap green, black)
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil or other painting medium
·odorless mineral spirits or turpentine
·rags or paper towels