plate no. 6519

Autumn forest

Endre Bartos, 1978

oilExpressionismlandscapetreesforestlandscapewaterreflectionautumn

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in impasto techniques and color mixing to create vibrant, expressive landscapes. It also encourages observation of light and reflection in water.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 7 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of trees and the water line.
step 02
Block in the main color areas using thin washes of paint, establishing the overall color scheme.
step 03
Apply thicker layers of paint using impasto techniques to create texture and dimension in the trees and foliage.
step 04
Mix and apply colors for the reflections in the water, paying attention to the distortion and color variations.
step 05
Add details to the tree trunks and branches, using darker colors to define their shapes.
step 06
Refine the colors and values in the foliage, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 07
Adjust the overall composition and color balance to achieve a harmonious and expressive result.

color palette

primary · cadmium red · cadmium yellow · ultramarine blue

secondary · alizarin crimson · violet · white

Mix various shades of orange and red by combining cadmium red and cadmium yellow. Create purples by mixing alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques

·impasto
·broken color
·color mixing
·layering
·wet-on-dry

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Applying paint too thinly, lacking texture and dimension.
→Ignoring the reflections in the water, resulting in a flat and unrealistic depiction.
→Not varying the brushstrokes, leading to a monotonous texture.