plate no. 1101

Honfleur Calvary on the Cote de Grace

oil, canvasRealismlandscapetreeslandscapefiguresskywatercross

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering foliage with loose, expressive brushstrokes. It also provides practice in capturing subtle variations in light and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the horizon line, the position of the trees, and the cross.
step 02
Block in the sky and water with thin washes of color, paying attention to the subtle gradations.
step 03
Establish the basic shapes of the trees, using darker values for the trunks and branches.
step 04
Add foliage using broken brushstrokes and varying shades of green and brown.
step 05
Paint the figures in the foreground, simplifying their forms and focusing on their silhouettes.
step 06
Add details to the cross and the distant coastline.
step 07
Refine the values and colors throughout the painting, paying attention to the overall atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow light · ivory black

Achieve the muted greens by mixing ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, and raw umber. Create atmospheric perspective by lightening colors with white as they recede into the distance.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·dry brushing
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality of the original.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
→Making the colors too saturated and bright.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in light and shadow.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, raw umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, ivory black)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·selection of round and flat brushes (#2, #4, #6)
·rags