plate no. 2174

Birches in Vääksy

Magnus Enckell, 1919

oilSymbolismlandscapetreesforestlandscapebirchesfoliagerocks

some experience helpful

This painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and using brushstrokes to define form and texture. It's a good exercise in simplifying a complex scene into basic shapes and colors.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the vertical lines of the trees and the placement of the rocks.
step 02
Establish the background sky and distant foliage with diluted blues and greens.
step 03
Block in the dark masses of the tree canopies using a mix of dark green and blue.
step 04
Begin painting the tree trunks, varying the colors from light gray to brown and using vertical brushstrokes.
step 05
Add the foreground foliage and rocks, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Layer lighter greens and yellows on top of the darker greens to create highlights and depth.
step 07
Refine the details of the tree trunks and branches, adding subtle variations in color and value.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to the foliage and rocks.

color palette

primary · viridian green · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · cadmium yellow

Mix greens by blending blues and yellows, and create variations by adding white or umber. Use white to lighten blues for the sky and distant foliage. Mix umber and yellow ochre for the rocks.

techniques