plate no. 7124

Garden of Quesada in winter

Rafael Zabaleta, 1944

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismlandscapetowntreesmountainsbuildingsskyfigures

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting helps students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes. It also provides practice in capturing the essence of a landscape with expressive brushstrokes.

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 mountains, buildings, and trees.
step 02
Block in the sky and distant mountains with light blues and greens, using thin washes.
step 03
Establish the main shapes of the buildings and the town square with light browns and creams.
step 04
Add the darker tones of the tree trunks and branches, paying attention to their structure.
step 05
Paint the details of the buildings, including windows and architectural features, using a small brush.
step 06
Develop the foreground with the path and figures, using a limited palette of browns and grays.
step 07
Refine the details of the trees and add highlights to the buildings and landscape.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed to create depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · cerulean blue

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · sap green

Mix various shades of green for the mountains and foliage by combining blue, yellow, and brown. Create muted tones for the buildings by mixing white with small amounts of brown and yellow.

techniques