plate no. 4812

Flower Garden at Brookville

T. C. Steele, 1901

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscapelandscapetreesfigureflowersfieldbuildings

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in impressionistic brushwork and color mixing to create a sense of light and atmosphere. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.

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 buildings, trees, and figure.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the main areas of light and shadow.
step 03
Block in the sky with a thin wash of color, gradually building up the tones.
step 04
Paint the distant hills and buildings using soft, blended brushstrokes.
step 05
Apply layers of green and yellow to the field, using broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Add the trees, focusing on their verticality and the patterns of light and shadow on their trunks.
step 07
Paint the figure using a limited palette of dark colors, suggesting form with subtle variations in tone.
step 08
Add final details, such as the sunflowers and the fence, using small, precise brushstrokes.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · sap green · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · titanium white · cadmium yellow light · alizarin crimson

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue, adjusting the ratio to create different shades. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights. Burnt umber is used to create dark tones and shadows.

techniques