plate no. 3400

Bare oaks, Newlands, late autumn

Gregoire Boonzaier, 1968

oilImpressionismlandscapetreeslandscapebuildingsskyfoliagemountain

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors and creating depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in capturing the organic forms of trees with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: trees, buildings, and the distant mountain.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue-gray wash, using horizontal brushstrokes.
step 03
Establish the basic colors of the trees, using darker greens and browns for the trunks and branches.
step 04
Add the foliage with short, broken brushstrokes, using a mix of greens, browns, and oranges.
step 05
Paint the buildings with simplified shapes and colors, paying attention to the red roof.
step 06
Create the distant mountain with a muted blue-gray, using soft edges to suggest distance.
step 07
Add details to the foreground foliage with varied greens and browns.
step 08
Refine the details of the trees, adding highlights and shadows to create form.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Yellow ochre · Burnt umber

secondary · Titanium white · Cadmium red · Sap green

Mix blue and yellow ochre for the sky and distant mountains. Combine burnt umber and yellow ochre for the tree branches. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques