plate no. 2904

Basque Landscape

Leon Kroll, 1914

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismlandscapelandscapecloudsfieldtreesmountainsbuildings

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as simplifying complex forms into basic shapes. It's also a good exercise in understanding aerial 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 shapes: mountains, buildings, field, and sky.
step 02
Block in the sky with light gray and white, paying attention to the cloud formations.
step 03
Establish the distant mountains with muted blues and greens.
step 04
Paint the field with varying shades of green, suggesting individual plants with short brushstrokes.
step 05
Add the buildings and trees, using darker greens and browns for shadows.
step 06
Refine the details of the clouds and foliage, adding highlights and shadows.
step 07
Add the tall tree on the right with vertical brushstrokes.
step 08
Review and adjust the values and colors to create a cohesive composition.

color palette

primary · titanium white · viridian green · raw umber · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Mix greens by combining viridian green with yellow ochre or raw umber. Create grays by mixing ultramarine blue, raw umber, and white. Use burnt sienna to warm up the greens and browns.

techniques