plate no. 1553
Corfu Landscape
Konstantinos Parthenis, 1917
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex forms and using a limited color palette to create a cohesive landscape. It also encourages practice in layering and blending colors to achieve subtle variations in tone.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the hill, trees, and horizon line using light pencil strokes.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the sky, water, hill, and tree masses, using thinned paint.
- step 03
Add the darker values to define the shapes of the trees and the contours of the hill.
- step 04
Begin layering lighter tones on the hill to create highlights and dimension.
- step 05
Refine the shapes of the trees, paying attention to the negative spaces between the leaves.
- step 06
Add details to the foreground vegetation, using short, broken brushstrokes.
- step 07
Introduce subtle color variations to the sky and water to create depth.
- step 08
Add the pink outline to the trees.
color palette
primary · olive green · burnt sienna · titanium white
secondary · pale blue · gray · pink
Mix greens by combining olive green with white and a touch of blue or burnt sienna. Achieve the hill's earthy tones by mixing burnt sienna with white and small amounts of green or blue. The pink is a very light tint of red and white.
techniques
- ·color blocking
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the simplicity of the original.
- →Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
- →Failing to accurately capture the subtle color variations.
- →Not paying attention to the negative spaces between the trees.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·oil paints (olive green, burnt sienna, titanium white, pale blue, gray)
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·palette knife
- ·rags
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process. Thin the paints with linseed oil for smoother blending.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
