plate no. 9747

Cottage at Corstorphine

Samuel Peploe, 1902

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapetreesbuildinglandscapecottagefoliagesky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values. It also encourages experimentation with color temperature to create depth and atmosphere.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the cottage, trees, and ground, focusing on composition.
step 02
Block in the darkest values with a mix of browns and blues, establishing the shadows.
step 03
Apply the lightest values to the cottage walls and highlights on the trees, using a mix of white and yellow ochre.
step 04
Add the green tones to the foreground, varying the shades to create depth and interest.
step 05
Use short, broken brushstrokes to suggest foliage and texture throughout the painting.
step 06
Introduce small amounts of blue in the sky and shadows to create atmospheric perspective.
step 07
Refine the details of the cottage windows and roof, keeping the brushwork loose and expressive.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall contrast and depth.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · sap green

Mix burnt umber and ultramarine blue for dark shadows. Use yellow ochre and white for the cottage walls. Mix sap green with yellow ochre and a touch of burnt umber for the foliage.

techniques

·broken color
·impasto
·scumbling
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the expressive brushwork.
→Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Ignoring the importance of color temperature in creating depth.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, yellow ochre, titanium white, ultramarine blue, sap green)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife