plate no. 3507

Contra Costa Landscape

oilTonalismlandscapelandscapetreesskyfieldpathhills

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and creating depth through subtle value changes. It's also a good exercise 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 composition, focusing on the horizon line and the placement of the trees and path.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue-gray wash, adding subtle variations for the clouds.
step 03
Establish the foreground, middle ground, and background with different values of green and brown.
step 04
Paint the distant hills with muted colors to create atmospheric perspective.
step 05
Add the trees, paying attention to their shape and form, and the way light falls on them.
step 06
Define the path with subtle variations in color and value.
step 07
Refine the details, such as the texture of the grass and the branches of the trees.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Yellow ochre · Burnt umber · Titanium white

secondary · Sap green · Raw sienna

Mix blues and browns with white to create the muted tones of the sky and distant hills. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber to create the greens and browns of the landscape. Add a touch of blue to the greens for shadows.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·value studies
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of atmosphere.
→Using colors that are too saturated and bright.
→Failing to create a clear sense of depth.
→Not paying attention to the values of the different elements.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·Oil paints (Prussian blue, Yellow ochre, Burnt umber, Titanium white, Sap green, Raw sienna)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Palette knife