plate no. 6605

Autumn Landscape

George Luks, 1930

watercolor, paperExpressionismlandscapelandscapecabintreesautumnrocksfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering watercolor washes and creating texture with dry brush techniques. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.

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 cabin, trees, and landscape.
step 02
Apply a light wash of yellow-orange to the foreground and mid-ground.
step 03
Add a light red wash to the background, leaving some areas lighter.
step 04
Paint the cabin with brown and dark red washes, indicating the log structure.
step 05
Use a dry brush technique to add texture to the trees and foliage with darker reds and browns.
step 06
Add details to the rocks with a mix of blues, greens, and browns.
step 07
Darken the background behind the cabin with a deep blue wash.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · cadmium red · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · sap green · raw umber

Mix burnt sienna and cadmium red for the dominant warm tones. Use ultramarine blue and raw umber to create darker shadows and cool tones. Mix yellow ochre with a touch of red for the foreground.

techniques