plate no. 3193
Gathering Bracken
Henry Herbert La Thangue, 1899
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering figures in a landscape and creating depth through atmospheric perspective and color variation. It also provides practice in depicting textures of foliage and clothing with visible brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main figures and tree trunks.
- step 02
Establish the overall color scheme with a thin wash of burnt umber and yellow ochre.
- step 03
Block in the large shapes of the figures, paying attention to proportions and basic values.
- step 04
Start building up the foliage with layers of browns, oranges, and yellows, using short, broken brushstrokes.
- step 05
Add details to the figures, refining their forms and adding highlights and shadows.
- step 06
Develop the background trees, using lighter values and softer edges to create depth.
- step 07
Refine the details of the leaves and ground cover, varying the colors and textures.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall sense of light and atmosphere.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · raw sienna · cadmium orange · ivory black
Achieve the various earth tones by mixing burnt umber with yellow ochre and white. Add small amounts of cadmium orange for warmer hues and ivory black for cooler shadows.
techniques
- ·broken brushstrokes
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Getting lost in the details too early.
- →Overworking the foliage and losing the sense of depth.
- →Failing to create a convincing sense of light and shadow.
- →Using colors that are too saturated and unrealistic.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·round brushes sizes 2, 4, 6
- ·linseed oil
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use a canvas with a medium texture to allow for better paint adhesion and visible brushstrokes.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
related guides
in this vein
