plate no. 4968

In Spiš near the castle

Martin Benka, 1922

oilExpressionismlandscapehaystackslandscapetreesmountainsfiguressky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values. It's a good exercise in capturing the overall mood of a landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the haystacks, trees, and mountains, focusing on their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the general layout of the landscape.
step 03
Apply a thin wash of diluted burnt umber or raw sienna to tone the canvas.
step 04
Block in the main color areas: sky, mountains, fields, and haystacks, using broad strokes.
step 05
Begin layering colors on the haystacks to create form and texture, using variations of browns, yellows, and oranges.
step 06
Add details to the trees and background, focusing on simplifying the shapes and values.
step 07
Refine the foreground with subtle color variations and textures to create depth.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall composition.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · sap green

Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth tones with white and small amounts of blue or green. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber for the haystacks, and ultramarine blue and white for the mountains.

techniques