plate no. 7582

Belgian Landscape

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscapetreeslandscapeskyfoliagepath

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork and layering to create depth and texture. It also provides practice in mixing subtle variations of greens and browns to represent foliage.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the trees and the horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of blue and white.
step 03
Establish the main masses of the trees with dark greens and browns, using loose, gestural brushstrokes.
step 04
Add lighter greens and yellows to the foliage to create highlights and variations.
step 05
Paint the path with a mix of browns, adding highlights and shadows to define its form.
step 06
Introduce subtle color variations in the sky and foliage to create depth.
step 07
Refine the details of the trees and foliage, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · Prussian Blue · Titanium White · Burnt Umber · Sap Green

secondary · Yellow Ochre · Cadmium Yellow

Mix greens by combining Prussian Blue, Sap Green, and Yellow Ochre. Achieve browns by blending Burnt Umber with small amounts of blue or green. Use white to lighten values and create highlights.

techniques

·Impasto
·Dry brushing
·Layering
·Color mixing
·Scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Using too much detail and not focusing on the overall impression.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·Oil paints (Prussian Blue, Titanium White, Burnt Umber, Sap Green, Yellow Ochre)
·Assorted brushes (round, flat)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Rags