plate no. 0246

House under the trees

oilCubismcityscapebuildingtreeswindowsfoliagehousecityscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle variations and in simplifying complex forms into geometric shapes. It also provides practice in layering colors and creating depth through atmospheric perspective.

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 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