plate no. 0950

Boy Fishing

oilNaïve Art (Primitivism)genre paintingtreeslakefigurelandscapefoliagepath

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice layering colors to create depth and using simplified shapes to represent complex forms. It also provides an opportunity to work with atmospheric perspective.

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 horizon line and major shapes of the trees and lake.
step 02
Block in the sky and distant hills with thin washes of color.
step 03
Establish the base color of the lake, varying the tone slightly to suggest reflections.
step 04
Paint the large masses of the trees, using darker greens for shadows and lighter greens for highlights.
step 05
Add details to the trees, such as individual leaves and branches, using a smaller brush.
step 06
Paint the figure of the fisherman, keeping it simple and silhouetted.
step 07
Add the path and foreground details, such as grass and small plants.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · sap green · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

secondary · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium yellow

Mix greens by combining blue and yellow, and adjust the tone with white or umber. Use yellow ochre and white to create the muted tones of the sky and distant hills.

techniques