plate no. 9841

Bushes

Alfred William Finch, 1919

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapetreesfoliagelandscapegroundshadowslight

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and using expressive brushstrokes to capture the texture of foliage. It's a good exercise in understanding light and shadow within a natural setting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the tree and the overall shape of the foliage.
step 02
Block in the background color with a thin wash of brown or ochre.
step 03
Start layering in the darkest areas of the foliage with dark greens and browns.
step 04
Add the mid-tones using a mix of greens, yellows, and browns, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 05
Introduce highlights with brighter yellows and greens, using short, choppy brushstrokes.
step 06
Paint the tree trunk with browns and grays, adding highlights and shadows to create form.
step 07
Define the ground plane with a mix of greens, yellows, and browns, suggesting patches of light and shadow.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · sap green · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium yellow · ultramarine blue · titanium white

Achieve the various greens by mixing yellow ochre, sap green, and ultramarine blue. Use titanium white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques

·broken color
·impasto
·scumbling
·layering
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Creating flat, uniform areas of color instead of varying the tones and textures.
→Ignoring the direction of light and creating inconsistent shadows.
→Not establishing a strong value structure early on.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, sap green, burnt umber, cadmium yellow, ultramarine blue, titanium white)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags