plate no. 9406

Gardner's Ranch

Eyvind Earle, 1991

oilMagic Realismlandscapelandscapetreeshillsskyfoliageanimals

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as practicing precise brushstrokes for detailed foliage.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the hills and the horizon line.
step 02
Establish the main light source and map out areas of light and shadow.
step 03
Block in the base colors for the sky, hills, and foreground.
step 04
Begin layering different shades of green and blue to create the texture of the foliage.
step 05
Add details to the trees and bushes, using small, precise brushstrokes.
step 06
Introduce warmer colors (reds, oranges, yellows) in areas where sunlight is hitting the foliage.
step 07
Paint the details of the animals in the foreground.
step 08
Refine the overall composition and add any final touches.

color palette

primary · dark green · yellow green · dark blue · yellow

secondary · red · orange · brown

Mix various greens by combining blues and yellows with small amounts of brown or black to darken. Achieve highlights by adding white or yellow to the base greens.

techniques

·layering
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·color mixing
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall composition.
→Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
→Failing to establish a clear light source.
→Not varying the colors enough to create depth and texture.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·acrylic paints (dark green, yellow green, dark blue, yellow, red, orange, brown, black, white)
·round brushes (various sizes)
·flat brushes (various sizes)
·palette
·water container
·paper towels
·easel