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home·artworks·Cedar Breaks Color
Cedar Breaks Color by Erin Hanson

plate no. 6739

Cedar Breaks Color

Erin Hanson, 2015

oilExpressionismlandscapetreeslandscapeskyautumnfoliagebirch trees
some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in impasto application and color mixing to create vibrant, textured landscapes. It will also improve understanding of perspective and composition in depicting trees.

technical profile

palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

  1. step 01

    Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees and the horizon line.

  2. step 02

    Block in the sky with broad strokes of light blue and white, creating a sense of depth and cloud formation.

  3. step 03

    Establish the basic shapes of the trees with thin washes of orange and red.

  4. step 04

    Begin building up the foliage with thick, textured strokes of various orange, yellow, and red hues.

  5. step 05

    Add the tree trunks, using white and gray with touches of blue and purple to create highlights and shadows.

  6. step 06

    Define the foreground with layers of green, brown, and purple, using short, choppy strokes to simulate grass and undergrowth.

  7. step 07

    Refine the details of the leaves and branches, adding highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

  8. step 08

    Add final touches and adjust colors as needed to achieve a cohesive and vibrant composition.

color palette

primary · cadmium orange · cadmium red · cerulean blue · titanium white

secondary · sap green · dioxazine purple · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of orange by blending cadmium orange with cadmium red and yellow ochre. Achieve the sky's color by mixing cerulean blue with titanium white and a touch of dioxazine purple.

techniques

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

common pitfalls

  • →Overblending colors, which can result in a muddy appearance.
  • →Neglecting to vary the brushstrokes, which can create a flat and lifeless texture.
  • →Failing to establish a clear focal point, which can make the composition feel chaotic.
  • →Not paying attention to the color temperature, which can disrupt the harmony of the painting.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

  • ·stretched canvas 18x24
  • ·oil paints (cadmium orange, cadmium red, cerulean blue, titanium white, sap green, dioxazine purple, yellow ochre)
  • ·palette knife
  • ·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
  • ·linseed oil
  • ·palette
  • ·rags
  • ·odorless mineral spirits

optional

  • ·painting medium (alkyd)
  • ·easel
  • ·palette cup

Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to speed up drying time.

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oil painting for beginners →how to learn by studying the masters →
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