plate no. 5281

House of Polenov in Behovo

oilRealismlandscapehousetreeslandscapefoliageskybuilding

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as simplifying complex forms into basic shapes. It also provides practice in capturing the impressionistic feel of light and shadow in a landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the house, trees, and horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin layer of light blue.
step 03
Establish the dark masses of the trees and foliage with a dark green/brown mix.
step 04
Add the basic colors of the house, paying attention to the roof and wall planes.
step 05
Begin layering colors in the foliage to create depth and texture, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the details of the house, adding windows, chimneys, and architectural details.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create form and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and color balance.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · viridian green

Mix greens by combining blue and yellow, and vary the tones by adding umber or white. Achieve the dark foliage colors by mixing umber, blue, and a touch of crimson. Use white to lighten colors for highlights and create atmospheric perspective.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·layering
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Creating mud by over-mixing colors on the canvas.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Neglecting the importance of atmospheric perspective.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 12x16
·oil paints
·round brushes (#2, #6)
·flat brush (#8)
·palette
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife

optional

·painting medium
·easel
·rags

Use a canvas with a medium texture to help grab the paint and create a broken color effect. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.

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