plate no. 3292
Crimson Autumn
Eyvind Earle, 1994
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and mastering stylized tree forms. It also provides practice in creating a sense of perspective through color and size variations.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the trees and the horizon line.
- step 02
Block in the background sky and distant hills with light, muted colors.
- step 03
Paint the dark silhouettes of the larger tree masses.
- step 04
Add the tree trunks and branches with thin, vertical lines.
- step 05
Begin layering the foliage with darker reds and purples, gradually adding lighter and brighter colors.
- step 06
Use small, controlled brushstrokes to create the texture of the leaves.
- step 07
Add the details of the foreground, including the ground lines.
- step 08
Refine the colors and values to create depth and dimension.
color palette
primary · dark green · crimson red · black
secondary · yellow · purple · light green
Mix dark greens by combining black and green. Achieve the crimson foliage by layering reds with touches of purple and yellow for highlights.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·color blending
- ·linear perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the foliage and losing the sense of depth.
- →Making the colors too uniform and lacking variation.
- →Not establishing a clear light source.
- →Ignoring the subtle color shifts in the background.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic paints
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·water container
- ·paper towels
- ·pencil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·retarder medium
- ·easel
Acrylics are recommended for their quick drying time, which allows for easier layering. Using a retarder medium can help with blending.
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