plate no. 1148

Backwoods

Arkady Rylov, 1920

oilSymbolismlandscapetreesforestlandscapefoliagemeadowsky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and using broken color techniques to represent foliage. It also provides practice in creating a sense of atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees and the horizon line.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, meadow, and the general areas of the trees.
step 03
Begin layering greens, using darker shades for shadows and lighter shades for highlights on the foliage.
step 04
Add the details of the tree trunks, paying attention to the texture and the direction of the light.
step 05
Introduce the lighter, almost white, areas of foliage to create a sense of depth and distance.
step 06
Refine the details of the foreground, adding small touches of color and texture to represent the grass and undergrowth.
step 07
Add the small details of the branches and leaves, using a small brush.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to create a harmonious and balanced composition.

color palette

primary · sap green · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · titanium white · cadmium yellow light · raw sienna

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, adjusting the ratio to create a variety of shades. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights. Mix browns by combining umber with blues and reds.

techniques