plate no. 7311

Crimea. Yayla

oilImpressionismlandscapelandscapetreesfieldmountainskyvegetation

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and using loose brushstrokes to suggest texture. It's a good exercise in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and the placement of the mountain, trees, and field.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin layer of blue-gray paint.
step 03
Establish the base color of the field with a mixture of yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and white.
step 04
Paint the mountain using a mix of white, yellow ochre, and a touch of burnt umber, varying the values to create form.
step 05
Add the trees with dark green, using broken brushstrokes to suggest foliage.
step 06
Layer lighter greens and yellows on top of the base green to create highlights and variations in the foliage.
step 07
Add details to the foreground, such as small plants and grasses, using short, quick brushstrokes.
step 08
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and adding subtle color variations to create a sense of atmosphere.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · titanium white · Prussian blue

secondary · sap green · raw umber

Mix yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the field. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights. Mix Prussian blue and white for the sky. Sap green can be darkened with raw umber for shadows in the trees.

techniques

·dry brush
·scumbling
·layering
·broken color
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Making the colors too saturated and not capturing the muted tones of the original.
→Failing to create depth by not varying the values and colors in the different planes.
→Getting bogged down in details too early in the process.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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