plate no. 6944

Forest Sunrise

oil, canvasLuminismlandscapetreesforestsunriselightdeerlandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the effect of light filtering through trees. It also provides practice in creating depth and texture with brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees and the horizon line.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber.
step 03
Block in the areas of light and shadow using a limited palette of browns, yellows, and whites.
step 04
Begin to build up the texture of the trees and foliage with short, broken brushstrokes.
step 05
Carefully blend the edges of the light and shadow areas to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 06
Add details to the trees and foliage, paying attention to the direction of the light.
step 07
Paint the deer as a simple silhouette.
step 08
Refine the overall composition and add any final details.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Mix various shades of brown by combining burnt umber with yellow ochre and alizarin crimson. Use titanium white to create lighter values and to add highlights.

techniques