plate no. 7055

Gardens at San Ildefonso

Joaquín Sorolla, 1907

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscapetreesmountainslandscapeskyfoliagepath

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as simplifying complex forms into basic shapes. It also provides practice in capturing the effects of light and shadow on foliage.

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 horizon line, mountain shape, and the mass of trees.
step 02
Establish the sky with a thin wash of pale blue and gray, blending the colors softly.
step 03
Block in the mountain range with muted purples, greens, and browns, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Start building up the foliage with layers of greens, yellows, and browns, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 05
Define the path with warm browns and ochres, adding shadows to create depth.
step 06
Add highlights to the foliage and path to suggest sunlight.
step 07
Refine the details of the trees and mountains, adding subtle color variations.
step 08
Add the figure on the path with simple strokes.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · sap green · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · titanium white · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · violet

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Create muted purples for the mountains by blending alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue. Use white to lighten values and create highlights.

techniques