plate no. 8323

Cumberland Landscape (Northrigg Hill)

Christopher Wood, 1928

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapelandscapefieldshousestreesskyhills

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice layering colors to create depth and texture, and simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes. It's also a good exercise in capturing the essence of a landscape with expressive brushstrokes.

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 landscape: horizon line, hills, fields, and buildings.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blues and grays, using loose brushstrokes.
step 03
Establish the main color areas of the fields with yellows and greens, varying the tones to suggest depth.
step 04
Add the darker greens and browns for the trees and shadows.
step 05
Paint the houses and buildings with simplified shapes and colors.
step 06
Define the road and stone walls with darker values.
step 07
Add details to the trees and foreground, using dry brush techniques for texture.
step 08
Refine the overall composition and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · sap green · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · raw sienna · gray

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Create various shades of gray by mixing ultramarine blue, burnt umber and white. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques

·dry brush
·scumbling
·color layering
·broken color
·simplification

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive feel.
→Making the colors too saturated and not capturing the muted tones of the landscape.
→Failing to establish a clear sense of depth and perspective.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations within each area of the painting.