plate no. 9637

Blue Flowers

oilTonalismlandscapelandscapemountainsflowersfieldskyclouds

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, and in using directional brushstrokes to suggest form and movement in a landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the horizon line, mountains, and the general areas of the flower fields.
step 02
Establish the sky with a thin wash of light blue, blending in hints of white and yellow for the clouds.
step 03
Block in the distant mountains with muted blues and greens, using vertical brushstrokes to suggest their form.
step 04
Begin layering the flower fields, starting with a base of greens and yellows, then adding patches of blues and purples to represent the flowers.
step 05
Use directional brushstrokes to follow the contours of the land and create a sense of depth within the flower fields.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to the flowers and grasses to create texture and visual interest.
step 07
Refine the details of the path, using browns and grays to create a sense of depth and perspective.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · viridian green · burnt sienna

Mix greens by blending blues and yellows, and create muted tones by adding small amounts of complementary colors. Achieve the lavender hues by mixing ultramarine blue and white, with a touch of red.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·layering
·directional brushstrokes
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Using too much detail in the distant mountains, which can flatten the perspective.
→Creating a uniform texture across the entire flower field, which can make it look monotonous.
→Not paying attention to the values, which can make the painting look flat.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 12x16
·oil paints (cerulean blue, yellow ochre, titanium white, ultramarine blue, viridian green, burnt sienna)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·rags