Christmas Tree in the Hall of Kilo Mansion

approach — 8 steps

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · viridian green · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue

Achieve the warm glow of the lights by mixing yellow ochre with touches of cadmium red and white. Create the muted greens by mixing viridian green with yellow ochre and burnt umber. Use ultramarine blue to darken shadows and create cool tones.

techniques

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

common pitfalls

• →Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality of the original.
• →Failing to capture the subtle variations in color and value that create depth and atmosphere.
• →Using too much detail in the background, which can distract from the focal point.
• →Not establishing a clear light source, which can make the painting look flat and unconvincing.