plate no. 4444

Cabasson Landscape (study)

oil, panelImpressionismsketch and studylandscapetreeshillsgrassskypath

some experience helpful

This painting is great for learning how to create depth using color and how to apply impressionistic brushstrokes to create texture. Recreating this will help students understand color mixing for landscapes and how to suggest detail rather than rendering it precisely.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition: horizon line, major tree masses, and the path.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blues and grays, using broken brushstrokes.
step 03
Establish the distant hills with muted blues and purples.
step 04
Paint the large masses of trees using a mix of blues, greens, and browns, varying the color temperature.
step 05
Lay in the field with yellows, greens, and browns, focusing on the horizontal strokes.
step 06
Add the path using browns, purples, and grays, varying the direction of the strokes to suggest texture.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to the trees and grass to create depth.
step 08
Refine details and adjust colors as needed, paying attention to the overall harmony.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Mix blues and yellows for greens, add white to lighten values, and use small amounts of red to create browns and purples. The key is to mix colors slightly imperfectly to achieve the broken color effect.

techniques