plate no. 3062

Autumn Landscape with Birches

Konstantin Gorbatov, 1924

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismlandscapetreeslandscapeskycloudswaterbirches

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors with visible brushstrokes and creating atmospheric perspective. It's also a good exercise in capturing the essence of a landscape rather than photorealistic detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition: horizon line, placement of trees, and cloud shapes.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blue, varying the tone slightly.
step 03
Establish the water with a darker blue, reflecting the sky.
step 04
Lay in the base colors for the trees: yellows, oranges, and browns.
step 05
Add highlights and shadows to the trees using thicker paint and visible brushstrokes.
step 06
Paint the foreground with greens and browns, suggesting grass and foliage.
step 07
Add details to the clouds with off-whites and light blues.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust colors as needed, paying attention to the overall harmony.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · cadmium yellow · cadmium red · viridian

Mix various shades of blue for the sky and water by adding white or a touch of yellow. Achieve the autumn colors by blending yellows, oranges, and browns, and use white to lighten the tones.

techniques