plate no. 6822
Entry into the Forest
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, composition, and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. It also offers practice in mixing a limited palette to achieve a range of values and colors.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main figures and landscape elements, focusing on proportions and placement.
- step 02
Block in the main color areas using thin washes of color.
- step 03
Start building up layers of paint, defining the forms and adding details.
- step 04
Use visible brushstrokes to create texture and visual interest.
- step 05
Pay attention to the light and shadow to create depth and dimension.
- step 06
Refine the details of the figures and animals.
- step 07
Add final touches and highlights.
- step 08
Let dry and varnish.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red
secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre
Mix raw umber and white for the figures' skin tones. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky and water. Mix cadmium red and raw umber for the ground.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·figure drawing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Getting the proportions of the figures wrong.
- →Not paying attention to the light and shadow.
- →Using too many colors and creating a muddy effect.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
