plate no. 4875

Cotswold Hills

Paul Nash, 1920

oilCubismlandscapelandscapehillsskytreesfieldsclouds

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and using directional brushstrokes to define form. It also provides practice in simplifying complex landscapes into geometric 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 hills, sky, and distant trees, focusing on the overall composition.
step 02
Block in the sky with light washes of grey, white, and a hint of blue, paying attention to the light rays.
step 03
Establish the base colors of the hills using greens, purples, and browns, varying the tones to suggest form.
step 04
Add directional brushstrokes to the hills to define their curves and create a sense of texture.
step 05
Paint the distant trees and horizon line with dark blues and greens, keeping the details minimal.
step 06
Develop the foreground vegetation with a mix of greens, yellows, and blues, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the shadows and highlights on the hills and vegetation to enhance the sense of depth.
step 08
Add final details, such as the figures on the horizon and any subtle color variations.

color palette

primary · viridian green · ultramarine blue · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · dioxazine purple

Mix greens by blending viridian green with cadmium yellow and raw umber. Create muted purples by mixing alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue. Achieve the sky colors by diluting titanium white with small amounts of ultramarine blue and raw umber.

techniques