plate no. 0703
Countryside
Giovanni (Nino) Costa, 1855
some experience helpful
This painting is great for practicing atmospheric perspective and creating depth with color and value changes. Students will also develop skills in rendering foliage with loose brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and the main shapes of the trees and sand dunes.
- step 02
Establish the sky with a thin wash of blue-grey, blending it smoothly.
- step 03
Block in the dark masses of the trees using a mix of browns and greens.
- step 04
Add lighter greens and yellows to the foliage to suggest highlights and form.
- step 05
Paint the sand dunes with a warm beige color, varying the value to create shadows and highlights.
- step 06
Use dry brush technique to add texture to the sand and foliage.
- step 07
Refine the details, paying attention to the edges of the forms.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · sap green
secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna
Mix greens by combining sap green with raw umber and yellow ochre. Achieve the sky color by mixing titanium white with a touch of ultramarine blue and raw umber. Use burnt sienna and yellow ochre for the sand.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·color mixing
- ·layering
- ·blending
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, painterly feel.
- →Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
- →Failing to create enough contrast between the light and dark areas.
- →Ignoring the atmospheric perspective and making the background too sharp.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·sap green oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the dry brush effect. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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