plate no. 4453

Daybreak at Cassis, near Marseilles

Winston Churchill, 1920

oilImpressionismlandscapetreespathfigurefoliagelandscapelight

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the effect of light filtering through trees. It also offers practice in simplifying complex foliage into manageable 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 perspective of the path and the placement of the trees.
step 02
Establish the darkest values in the trees and foliage to create a foundation for the painting.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: the green of the path, the darker greens of the trees, and the lighter greens/yellows of the foliage.
step 04
Begin to add details to the trees, using short, broken brushstrokes to suggest leaves and branches.
step 05
Work on the figure, simplifying the form and focusing on its overall shape and value.
step 06
Develop the atmospheric perspective by lightening and softening the colors as they recede into the distance.
step 07
Add highlights to the foliage and path to create a sense of light and shadow.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values as needed to create a cohesive and harmonious painting.

color palette

primary · sap green · yellow ochre · burnt umber

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow light · alizarin crimson

Mix greens by combining sap green, yellow ochre, and ultramarine blue. Use burnt umber and ultramarine blue for dark shadows. Achieve the light at the end of the path by mixing cadmium yellow light with titanium white.

techniques

·broken color
·atmospheric perspective
·scumbling
·alla prima
·implied detail

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic effect.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmospheric perspective.
→Making the colors too saturated and unnatural.
→Not simplifying the foliage enough, resulting in a cluttered and confusing composition.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 12x16
·oil paints
·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·flat brush (size 8)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·palette knife

optional

·painting medium
·easel
·rags

Use a medium-tooth canvas for a good balance between texture and detail. Consider using a pre-toned canvas to save time and create a more unified color palette.

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