plate no. 9741

Beech Forest

oilRealismlandscapetreesforestlandscapeshadowsground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand atmospheric perspective and how to create depth using color and value changes. It will also provide practice in rendering tree bark texture and cast shadows.

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 horizon line.
step 02
Establish the background colors, using lighter and cooler tones to create depth.
step 03
Block in the main tree trunks with basic shapes and values.
step 04
Add details to the tree bark, using a variety of brushstrokes and colors.
step 05
Paint the ground plane, paying attention to the light and shadow patterns.
step 06
Refine the details of the branches and foliage.
step 07
Add cast shadows from the trees, using a dark, cool color.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to create a cohesive and atmospheric painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · sap green

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining raw umber, ultramarine blue, and titanium white. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna to create warm highlights on the ground and trees. Add small amounts of sap green to create a natural, earthy tone.

techniques

·dry brush texture
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·broken color

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall atmospheric effect.
→Using too much pure color without mixing it with other colors to create subtle variations.
→Not paying attention to the light and shadow patterns.
→Making the tree trunks too uniform in color and texture.