plate no. 6219
Fruit Trees
Gustav Klimt, 1901
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors and creating texture with short, broken brushstrokes. It also provides practice in depicting atmospheric perspective and creating a sense of depth.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, indicating the placement of the trees, field, and water.
- step 02
Establish the background sky and water with thin washes of color.
- step 03
Block in the general color areas of the field, using a mix of greens, yellows, and browns.
- step 04
Begin layering colors in the trees, using short, broken brushstrokes to create the foliage.
- step 05
Add small dabs of color (blues, yellows, oranges) to represent the fruit and flowers.
- step 06
Define the tree trunks and branches with darker values, paying attention to the light and shadow.
- step 07
Refine the details and textures throughout the painting, adding highlights and shadows as needed.
- step 08
Add final touches to the sky and water, ensuring they recede into the distance.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · sap green · ultramarine blue · burnt umber
secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · titanium white
Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Create variations by adding white, burnt umber, or cadmium yellow. Achieve the yellow field by layering cadmium yellow and yellow ochre.
techniques
- ·pointillism
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Creating too much uniformity in the foliage, losing the sense of texture.
- →Neglecting the atmospheric perspective, causing the background to appear flat.
- →Making the brushstrokes too large and defined, losing the overall impressionistic effect.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
- ·oil paints (yellow ochre, sap green, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, cadmium yellow, alizarin crimson, titanium white)
- ·round brushes (#2, #4, #6)
- ·flat brushes (#4, #8)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·painting medium (e.g., Liquin)
- ·varnish
- ·easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Pre-toned canvas can help to establish the overall color harmony.
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