plate no. 5308
Coucher De Soleil
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle atmospheric effects and layering techniques to build depth in a landscape.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and placement of the trees and figure.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of pinks, oranges, and greens, blending softly.
- step 03
Establish the water area with muted blues and grays, reflecting the sky's colors.
- step 04
Paint the distant landmass with a darker tone of blue-gray.
- step 05
Begin layering the foreground hills with greens, browns, and yellows, using short, broken brushstrokes.
- step 06
Add the trees, starting with the darker masses of foliage and then adding highlights and details.
- step 07
Paint the figure with a neutral tone, suggesting form with subtle shading.
- step 08
Refine details and adjust colors to achieve the desired atmospheric effect.
color palette
primary · pink · green · blue · gray
secondary · orange · yellow · brown
Mix muted tones by combining complementary colors. Achieve the atmospheric haze by layering thin washes of color and blending edges softly.
techniques
- ·color mixing
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·broken brushstrokes
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall atmospheric effect.
- →Using colors that are too saturated and not muted enough.
- →Creating harsh lines instead of soft transitions.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the sky and water.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
- ·mineral spirits or turpentine (for cleaning)
optional
- ·easel
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
Use a limited palette of colors to simplify the mixing process. Consider using a toned canvas to create a more unified color scheme.
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