plate no. 8854

Country in Summer

Antonio Sicurezza, 1965

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapelandscapehillsfieldsskyvegetationhaystack

some experience helpful

This painting is great for practicing layering and color mixing to create depth in a landscape. Students can learn to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and color blocks.

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, fields, and sky, paying attention to the overall composition.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and distant mountains.
step 03
Add the darker greens and browns to define the shapes of the hills and fields.
step 04
Begin layering lighter colors on top of the darker areas to create highlights and depth.
step 05
Define the shapes of the haystack and agave plants in the foreground.
step 06
Add details to the buildings on the hilltop.
step 07
Refine the colors and values throughout the painting, paying attention to the overall harmony.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · cerulean blue · burnt sienna · sap green

secondary · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium yellow light

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre, cerulean blue, and a touch of burnt sienna. Use titanium white to lighten colors and create highlights. Achieve earth tones by mixing burnt sienna, raw umber, and yellow ochre.

techniques

·blocking in
·layering
·dry brushing
·color mixing
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impression.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing.
→Not paying attention to the values and creating a flat image.
→Ignoring the atmospheric perspective and making the distant mountains too bright.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 12x16
·oil paints (yellow ochre, cerulean blue, burnt sienna, sap green, titanium white, raw umber)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (flat and round)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·rags