plate no. 8769
Hill of Jallais at Pontoise
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and layering colors to create depth. It also offers practice in rendering foliage and simple architectural forms with loose brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the horizon line and major shapes.
- step 02
Block in the sky with light blues and whites, creating soft cloud formations.
- step 03
Establish the dark masses of the trees and foliage using dark greens and browns.
- step 04
Paint the distant hills with muted greens and browns, gradually lightening the colors as they approach the foreground.
- step 05
Add the buildings, paying attention to their simple geometric forms and the direction of light.
- step 06
Define the path with warm yellows and browns, suggesting texture with broken brushstrokes.
- step 07
Add the figure, keeping it simple and suggestive.
- step 08
Refine details and adjust values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · sap green · cadmium yellow · raw sienna
Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, and create earth tones by mixing browns with yellows and blues. Use white to lighten colors and create atmospheric haze.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
- →Creating overly saturated colors that lack subtlety.
- →Failing to establish a clear sense of depth and atmosphere.
- →Making the brushstrokes too uniform and lacking variety.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·oil paints
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
Use a medium-tooth canvas for better texture. Consider pre-toning the canvas with a thin wash of burnt umber for a warmer base.
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