plate no. 2744

Autumn. Yerevan

Sedrak Arakelyan, 1924

oil, cardPost-Impressionismlandscapetreeslandscapeautumnfoliageshadowshills

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values. It also provides practice in capturing the feeling of light and atmosphere in a landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and the placement of major tree groups.
step 02
Establish the sky color with a thin wash of blue-green.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the distant hills with muted greens and browns.
step 04
Begin layering in the foliage, starting with darker browns and greens, then adding yellows, oranges, and reds.
step 05
Use short, broken brushstrokes to create texture in the foliage.
step 06
Paint the shadows on the ground with a mix of blues, purples, and browns.
step 07
Add highlights to the foliage and tree trunks to create a sense of light.
step 08
Refine details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium yellow · cadmium red · viridian

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue, and adjust with viridian. Create browns by mixing burnt umber and ultramarine blue, and modify with yellow or red for warmth.

techniques

·broken color
·layering
·scumbling
·alla prima
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impression.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing.
→Creating mud by over-mixing colors on the canvas.
→Ignoring the values and focusing only on the colors.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt umber, ultramarine blue, cadmium yellow, cadmium red, viridian)
·Canvas or oil paper (12x16 inches)
·Assorted brushes (flat and round)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags