plate no. 7816

Evening, Siena

Clarence Gagnon, 1911

oilImpressionismcityscapelandscapetreesbuildingshillsskyroad

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve atmospheric perspective and layering brushstrokes to create texture and form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the horizon line, major shapes of the hills, buildings, and trees.
step 02
Establish the sky with a light blue and yellow wash, blending the colors softly.
step 03
Block in the large areas of the hills and buildings with dark blues and purples, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Paint the trees, using vertical strokes for the trunks and dabbing motions for the foliage, varying the colors from greens to yellows and oranges.
step 05
Add the details of the buildings, including the windows and doors, using small brushstrokes.
step 06
Create the road using a light gray or beige color, blending it into the surrounding landscape.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to the entire painting to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Mix blues and yellows with white for the sky. Use umber and blue for the dark hills. Add crimson to umber for the reddish-brown tones in the foreground.

techniques