plate no. 0273

Enchanted Forest

Eyvind Earle, 1985

oilMagic Realismlandscapetreesforestlandscapeskyfoliagelight

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors, creating atmospheric perspective, and simplifying complex shapes into stylized forms. It also provides practice in rendering delicate tree branches and using light to create depth and mood.

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 trees, focusing on the overall composition.
step 02
Apply a base layer of dark blue to the sky, gradually lightening towards the horizon.
step 03
Paint the dark masses of the hills and tree canopies with a mix of dark browns and blues.
step 04
Add highlights to the hills and trees with touches of red, orange, and lighter blues to create depth and dimension.
step 05
Paint the thin tree trunks with varying shades of gray and blue, paying attention to their verticality and spacing.
step 06
Carefully add the delicate branches of the bare trees, using a fine brush and light blue or gray paint.
step 07
Create the foreground with horizontal lines, using dark browns and blues to suggest a field.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values to enhance the overall mood and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · payne's gray

Achieve the various shades of blue by mixing ultramarine blue with white and small amounts of burnt umber or Payne's gray. Create the dark masses by blending burnt umber with ultramarine blue and a touch of red. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques

·layering
·glazing
·dry brushing
·atmospheric perspective
·linear perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the trees, losing the overall simplicity of the design.
→Creating too much contrast, resulting in a harsh and unnatural look.
→Failing to establish a strong sense of depth and atmosphere.
→Making the foreground too detailed, distracting from the main subject.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·acrylic paints (ultramarine blue, burnt umber, titanium white, cadmium red, payne's gray)
·round brushes (sizes 0, 2, 4)
·flat brushes (sizes 6, 8)
·palette
·palette knife
·water container
·rags