plate no. 8877

Autumn

Victor Zaretsky, 1983

oilExpressionismlandscapetreeslandscapeautumnfoliageparkgrass

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as simplifying complex forms into expressive strokes. It also introduces the concept of using color temperature to suggest light and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the trees and the horizon line.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: green for the grass, yellow-orange for the foliage, and a light tone for the sky.
step 03
Begin layering colors within each area, using darker greens and browns in the shadows of the grass, and oranges and browns in the foliage.
step 04
Add the tree trunks and branches using dark browns and blacks, varying the thickness of the lines for visual interest.
step 05
Introduce subtle variations in color temperature, using cooler greens and blues in the shadows and warmer yellows and oranges in the highlights.
step 06
Add details to the foliage, using short, broken strokes to suggest individual leaves.
step 07
Refine the edges of the shapes, softening some areas and sharpening others to create depth.
step 08
Add final touches, such as small details in the grass and subtle variations in the sky.

color palette

primary · yellow-orange · green · brown · black

secondary · red · light yellow · dark green

Mix various shades of green by combining yellow and blue, and create browns by mixing red, yellow, and blue. Adjust the proportions to achieve different tones.

techniques