plate no. 2447

Autumnal greys (Forest of Fontainebleau)

oilImpressionismlandscapetreeswaterforestlandscapereflectionfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective to depict distance. It also provides practice in capturing reflections in water.

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 waterline.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: the sky, water, trees, and foliage, using thin washes.
step 03
Start layering darker tones to define the tree trunks and branches.
step 04
Add highlights to the trees and foliage to create a sense of light and shadow.
step 05
Work on the reflections in the water, using broken brushstrokes to suggest movement.
step 06
Add details to the foreground, such as the reeds and grasses.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · sap green

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · cadmium yellow

Mix browns with blues and yellows to create variations in the tree bark and foliage. Use white to lighten colors for the sky and reflections.

techniques

·dry brush texture
·broken brushstrokes
·layering
·atmospheric perspective
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic effect.
→Making the colors too saturated and not capturing the muted tones of autumn.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and distance.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x24 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, sap green, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags

optional

·medium (e.g., Liquin)
·varnish

Use a canvas with a medium texture to help create the broken brushstroke effect. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.

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