plate no. 5598

Churchyard at Shillingstone

oilImpressionismlandscapechurchtreesgraveyardpathgrassbuilding

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and creating depth through layering of values. Students will also practice capturing the texture of foliage and stone using broken color and visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, paying attention to the placement of the church, trees, and path.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
step 03
Block in the main color areas: the sky, the church walls, the trees, the path, and the grass.
step 04
Begin layering colors, starting with the darker values and gradually adding highlights.
step 05
Use broken color and short brushstrokes to create the texture of the foliage and stone.
step 06
Pay attention to the atmospheric perspective, making distant objects appear lighter and less detailed.
step 07
Add details such as the gravestones and the figures in the background.
step 08
Refine the painting by adjusting values, colors, and edges as needed.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · cadmium yellow · raw sienna · viridian

Mix greens by combining ultramarine blue and cadmium yellow, and adjust the value and temperature with white, burnt umber, or raw sienna. Achieve the warm tones of the path and church by mixing yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of cadmium yellow.

techniques

·broken color
·dry brush
·layering
·atmospheric perspective
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Ignoring the atmospheric perspective and making distant objects too detailed.
→Using colors that are too saturated and not harmonizing with the overall palette.