plate no. 1555

Evening in the Crimea

oil, canvasRealismlandscapetreeslandscapeskyhillsvegetationpath

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and layering techniques to create depth. It also provides practice in capturing the texture of foliage with loose brushstrokes.

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 placement of the trees and the horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, blending it towards the horizon with a touch of yellow.
step 03
Establish the distant hills with a muted green and yellow mix, using thin washes.
step 04
Begin layering the foliage in the foreground with darker greens, varying the tones to create depth.
step 05
Add the path, using browns and greens, and suggest texture with broken brushstrokes.
step 06
Paint the cypress trees, paying attention to their verticality and the way light hits them.
step 07
Refine the details in the foreground, adding highlights and shadows to create form.
step 08
Add final touches to the sky and distant hills, ensuring a sense of atmospheric perspective.

color palette

primary · Prussian Blue · Yellow Ochre · Burnt Umber · Titanium White

secondary · Sap Green · Cadmium Yellow · Raw Sienna

Mix greens by blending Prussian Blue and Yellow Ochre. Use white to lighten values and create atmospheric haze. Burnt Umber is used to darken greens and create shadows.

techniques

·Atmospheric perspective
·Layering
·Broken brushstrokes
·Dry brushing
·Color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the foreground
→Creating too much contrast in the distant hills
→Using too much pure green without mixing
→Failing to establish a clear light source

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·Oil paints (Prussian Blue, Yellow Ochre, Burnt Umber, Titanium White, Sap Green)
·Round brushes (sizes #2, #6)
·Flat brush (size #8)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil