plate no. 4275
Green autumn
Zinaida Serebriakova, 1908
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand atmospheric perspective and how to create depth using color and brushstrokes. It also provides practice in creating repetitive patterns with slight variations to simulate texture.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and the placement of the windmills.
- step 02
Establish the sky with a thin wash of muted yellows and grays.
- step 03
Block in the large shapes of the fields with varying shades of green and brown.
- step 04
Add the path, using a mix of browns and yellows, and indicating its perspective.
- step 05
Begin adding the rows in the fields, varying the color and thickness of each row to create texture and depth.
- step 06
Paint the windmills with simple shapes, paying attention to their relative size and placement.
- step 07
Refine the details in the foreground, adding subtle variations in color and texture.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and form.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · sap green · raw umber
secondary · titanium white · burnt sienna · payne's gray
Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and sap green. Use raw umber and burnt sienna to create earth tones. Mute colors with a touch of payne's gray.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·linear perspective
- ·dry brushing
common pitfalls
- →Making the rows in the fields too uniform, which will flatten the image.
- →Overworking the details, which will lose the impressionistic feel.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the sky and fields.
- →Not establishing a clear sense of perspective.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oils)
- ·mineral spirits (if using oils)
optional
- ·easel
- ·medium gloss
- ·painting rags
Use a medium-grain canvas to allow for texture. If using acrylics, consider adding a retarder to slow drying time.
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