plate no. 7091

Forest Palace

Johannes Sveinsson Kjarval, 1918

oilExpressionismlandscapetreesforestlandscapegroundfoliagewoods

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as simplifying complex forms into basic shapes. It's also a good exercise in understanding color temperature and how it affects the overall mood.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the trees, focusing on their verticality and relative positions.
step 02
Block in the background with dark greens and blues, creating a sense of depth.
step 03
Apply a base coat of red to the ground area.
step 04
Begin layering lighter greens and yellows onto the tree trunks to suggest light and form.
step 05
Add darker greens and blues to the shadows on the trees and in the background.
step 06
Refine the shapes of the trees and add subtle details to the foliage.
step 07
Adjust the colors and values to create a cohesive and atmospheric effect.
step 08
Add final highlights to the trees and ground to enhance the sense of light.

color palette

primary · sap green · cadmium yellow · crimson red

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

Mix greens by combining yellow and blue, and vary the shades by adding small amounts of red or umber. Create the ground color by mixing red with a touch of umber and white.

techniques

·layering
·blending
·scumbling
·color mixing
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall atmospheric effect.
→Making the colors too bright and saturated, which can flatten the image.
→Not paying attention to the relative values of the colors, which can disrupt the sense of depth.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the trees and ground.