plate no. 5114
Bloomingdale Road
some experience helpful
This painting is great for practicing atmospheric perspective and creating depth using subtle value and color shifts. Students can also learn to suggest detail with loose, expressive brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the road, the tree, and the house.
- step 02
Establish the sky with a thin wash of light grey and blue.
- step 03
Block in the large shapes of the trees and foliage with darker browns and greens.
- step 04
Add the road using varying shades of brown and ochre, paying attention to perspective.
- step 05
Paint the house with light and dark values to suggest form.
- step 06
Develop the tree with textured brushstrokes, adding highlights and shadows.
- step 07
Refine the details of the foliage and add subtle color variations.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the depth and atmosphere.
color palette
primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · cadmium red
Mix various shades of brown and green by combining raw umber, burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and ultramarine blue. Use white to lighten values and create atmospheric perspective.
techniques
- ·dry brush texture
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·broken color
- ·tonal layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive feel.
- →Creating too much contrast, which can flatten the image.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the foliage.
- →Not establishing a clear sense of depth and atmosphere.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·round brushes size 2-6
- ·flat brushes size 4-8
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
Use a medium-grit canvas to allow for textured brushstrokes. Thin the oil paints with a small amount of linseed oil or turpentine for better flow.
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