plate no. 0905

Blue Bonnets at Late Afternoon

Robert Julian Onderdonk, 1915

oilImpressionismlandscapelandscapebluebonnetstreesskyfieldflowers

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve realistic floral tones and practice layering brushstrokes to create depth and texture in a landscape.

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 horizon line and placement of major trees and the field.
step 02
Establish the sky with light blue and white, blending for soft clouds.
step 03
Block in the distant landscape with muted purples and greens to create atmospheric perspective.
step 04
Apply a base layer of blue for the bluebonnet field, varying the shade from foreground to background.
step 05
Add highlights and shadows to the bluebonnets using lighter and darker blues and touches of green and white.
step 06
Paint the trees, using a mix of greens, browns, and yellows, and indicating leaf texture with short, broken brushstrokes.
step 07
Add details to the foreground, such as individual flowers and foliage, using small brushes.
step 08
Refine the overall painting, adjusting colors and values as needed to create a cohesive and harmonious image.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white · sap green

secondary · burnt umber · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Mix ultramarine blue with white for the sky and lighter areas of the flowers. Combine yellow ochre and sap green for foliage. Use alizarin crimson to create purple hues for the distant hills.

techniques