plate no. 2407
Harbach
Gazmend Freitag, 2020
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as simplifying complex organic shapes into expressive brushstrokes. It's also a good exercise in understanding atmospheric perspective and color temperature changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
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 path and tree placement.
- step 02
Block in the sky and background with diluted washes of color.
- step 03
Establish the main color masses for the foliage, using yellows, oranges, and reds.
- step 04
Begin layering brushstrokes to define individual leaves and branches.
- step 05
Add darker values to create shadows and depth within the trees and along the path.
- step 06
Introduce highlights to capture the light filtering through the leaves.
- step 07
Refine the details of the path, paying attention to the texture and color variations.
- step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · cadmium yellow · burnt sienna · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · sap green
Mix various shades of yellow and orange by combining cadmium yellow, yellow ochre, and burnt sienna. Use ultramarine blue and burnt sienna to create neutral browns and grays for the tree trunks and shadows. Add small amounts of red and green to the yellows to create the variations in the leaves.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
- ·alla prima
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Creating flat, uniform color areas instead of layering variations.
- →Failing to establish a clear value structure and depth.
- →Ignoring the color temperature shifts in the shadows and highlights.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·oil paints (yellow ochre, cadmium yellow, burnt sienna, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, sap green, titanium white)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·rags
optional
- ·painting medium (e.g., Liquin)
- ·easel
- ·varnish
A slightly textured canvas will enhance the broken color effect. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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