plate no. 5648

Deep Wilderness

oilMagic Realismlandscapetreeshillslandscapeforestskylight

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as practicing stylized representation of natural forms like trees and hills. Students will also work on creating a sense of light and shadow to define the forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the hills and tree clusters, focusing on the overall composition.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the general areas of light and shadow.
step 03
Block in the base colors for the sky, hills, and trees, using a thin wash.
step 04
Begin layering darker tones in the shadowed areas of the trees and hills to create depth.
step 05
Add highlights to the sunlit areas, using lighter shades of green and yellow.
step 06
Refine the shapes of the trees and add details like branches and foliage.
step 07
Blend the transitions between light and shadow to create a soft, atmospheric effect.
step 08
Add final details and adjust colors as needed to achieve the desired mood.

color palette

primary · dark green · yellow ochre · burnt umber

secondary · light green · sky blue · white

Mix various shades of green by combining dark green, yellow ochre, and burnt umber. Use white to lighten the greens and create highlights. Mix blue and white for the sky.

techniques

·layering
·blending
·scumbling
·glazing
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of atmosphere.
→Creating harsh transitions between light and shadow.
→Using too much detail in the background, which can flatten the image.
→Not paying attention to the color temperature of the light and shadow.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Acrylic or oil paints (dark green, yellow ochre, burnt umber, light green, sky blue, white)
·Round brushes (various sizes)
·Flat brushes (various sizes)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits or water (depending on paint type)
·Linseed oil (if using oil paints)