plate no. 1815

Garden View

Lili Elbe, 1910

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapefountainwatergardentreeslandscapereflection

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, layering, and capturing the essence of light and reflection. It's a good exercise in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes and colors.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the fountain, water, and surrounding landscape.
step 02
Establish the main color blocks for the sky, water, and foliage using thin washes.
step 03
Begin layering colors to build depth and form in the fountain and surrounding structures.
step 04
Add details to the fountain's sculptures and architectural elements, focusing on light and shadow.
step 05
Develop the reflections in the water, using broken brushstrokes to suggest movement.
step 06
Refine the foliage with varied greens and yellows, creating texture with short, choppy strokes.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the scene.
step 08
Make final adjustments to color and value to unify the composition.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · viridian green · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights. Achieve the warm tones of the architecture by mixing yellow ochre with burnt sienna and a touch of red.

techniques

·broken color
·wet-on-dry layering
·scumbling
·color mixing
·Impasto

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic feel.
→Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in light and shadow.
→Ignoring the importance of reflections in the water.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, viridian green, ultramarine blue, titanium white, burnt sienna, cadmium yellow, alizarin crimson)
·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags