plate no. 3730
Hillside
some experience helpful
This painting is great for learning how to create depth using color and value, and how to suggest detail with expressive brushstrokes. Students will develop skills in layering paint and simplifying complex forms.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the hill, trees, and horizon line.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a thin layer of light gray-white paint.
- step 03
Establish the basic color of the hill using a mix of browns, greens, and blues.
- step 04
Add darker values to the shaded areas of the hill and trees.
- step 05
Apply highlights to the top of the hill and the sunlit areas of the trees.
- step 06
Use short, directional brushstrokes to create texture in the foliage and ground.
- step 07
Refine the shapes of the trees and add details to the foreground.
- step 08
Add final touches to the sky and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · titanium white · burnt umber · sap green
secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue
Mix browns with blues and greens for shadows. Use yellow ochre and white to create highlights on the trees. Vary the green by mixing it with brown or blue.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·impasto
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the expressive brushstrokes.
- →Making the colors too uniform and lacking variation.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth in the landscape.
- →Not paying attention to the direction of the brushstrokes.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·sap green oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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