plate no. 5393
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing movement and depicting figures in a landscape setting using a limited color palette. It also encourages the use of loose brushwork to create a sense of atmosphere.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the tree, building, and main groups of figures.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the darker tones in the trees and figures.
- step 04
Develop the background landscape, suggesting the mountains and sky with subtle color variations.
- step 05
Add details to the figures, focusing on capturing their gestures and movement.
- step 06
Refine the lighting and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Use broken brushstrokes to add texture and visual interest to the foliage and ground.
- step 08
Add final highlights to the figures and building to create focal points.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white · Prussian blue
secondary · cadmium yellow · raw sienna · ivory black
Achieve the various greens by mixing yellow ochre and Prussian blue. Use white to lighten values and create highlights. Mix burnt umber and black for deep shadows.
techniques
- ·dry brush texture
- ·scumbling
- ·broken color
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic feel.
- →Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Ignoring the importance of capturing movement in the figures.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·Prussian blue oil paint
- ·#6 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium (e.g., Liquin)
- ·easel
Use a canvas with a medium texture to allow for broken brushstrokes. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base color.
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