plate no. 0775

Church with Cypress

oilImpressionismlandscapechurchcypress treeslandscapebuildingsskyvegetation

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and capturing the essence of a scene with loose, expressive brushstrokes. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the church, trees, and landscape, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin layer of white mixed with a touch of gray or blue.
step 03
Establish the main color masses for the church and trees, using a limited palette of earth tones and blues.
step 04
Layer darker values to define the shadows and forms of the trees and buildings.
step 05
Add highlights to the church dome and other areas to create a sense of light.
step 06
Use short, broken brushstrokes to suggest the texture of the foliage and architectural details.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a harmonious composition.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · cadmium red

Mix white with small amounts of blue and umber to create the sky. Use umber and blue for the dark cypress trees, adding red for warmth. Mix yellow ochre, sienna, and white for the church, adjusting with umber and red for shadows.

techniques