plate no. 3962

Autumn Gold

oilRealismlandscapetreesforestautumnleavespheasantslandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, and in depicting the effects of light filtering through foliage. It's a good exercise in capturing the mood of a season.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees and the horizon line.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme with a thin wash of burnt sienna and yellow ochre.
step 03
Block in the dark areas of the forest in the background using a mix of dark greens and browns.
step 04
Begin layering the colors of the leaves, using a variety of yellows, oranges, and reds.
step 05
Add details to the tree trunks, paying attention to the texture of the bark.
step 06
Paint the ground cover with a mix of browns, yellows, and greens, suggesting fallen leaves.
step 07
Add the pheasants, paying attention to their anatomy and coloration.
step 08
Refine the details and add highlights to create a sense of depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · raw umber

secondary · cadmium yellow · cadmium orange · viridian green

Achieve the warm autumn colors by mixing yellows, oranges, and reds with burnt sienna and raw umber. Use viridian green to create the darker greens in the background.

techniques