plate no. 0246
House under the trees
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the house, trees, and major foliage areas, focusing on their geometric forms.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background and working forward.
- step 03
Mix a range of muted greens, browns, and blues for the house and foliage.
- step 04
Apply the colors using short, choppy brushstrokes, allowing some of the underpainting to show through.
- step 05
Add details to the windows and architectural elements, using a smaller brush.
- step 06
Define the tree trunks and branches with darker values and more distinct brushstrokes.
- step 07
Layer colors to create depth and dimension in the foliage.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create a sense of light.
color palette
primary · olive green · burnt umber · cerulean blue
secondary · yellow ochre · purple · white
Achieve the muted greens by mixing olive green with burnt umber and a touch of blue. Create the purples by mixing blue and red, and then toning them down with a touch of brown.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·geometric abstraction
- ·layering
- ·color mixing
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details
- →Creating muddy colors
- →Failing to simplify the forms
- →Ignoring the geometric structure
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas 12x16
- ·Acrylic or oil paints
- ·Round brushes (#2, #6)
- ·Flat brush (#8)
- ·Palette
- ·Palette knife
- ·Odorless mineral spirits or water (depending on paint type)
- ·Linseed oil (if using oil paints)
optional
- ·Medium gloss
- ·Easel
- ·Rags
Use a limited palette to encourage color mixing. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base color.
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