plate no. 6604

Cloud Study over Poplars

oilRomanticismsketch and studyskycloudstreeslandscapesunset

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in blending colors to create atmospheric effects and using brushstrokes to suggest form and texture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, indicating the horizon line and the placement of the trees and clouds.
step 02
Block in the sky with broad strokes of orange, yellow, and gray, blending the colors where they meet.
step 03
Add the darker cloud formations, paying attention to their shapes and edges.
step 04
Define the trees in the foreground with dark, vertical strokes, varying their height and thickness.
step 05
Refine the details of the clouds, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 06
Adjust the values and colors as needed to achieve the desired atmospheric effect.
step 07
Add final details to the trees and foreground.
step 08
Let dry and varnish.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · ivory black

Mix burnt sienna and ultramarine blue for the darker tones in the clouds and trees. Use yellow ochre and white for the lighter areas of the sky. Add cadmium red to the orange tones for warmth.

techniques