plate no. 7235

In the Forest

Georges Lacombe, 1909

oil, panelPointillismlandscapetreesforestfoliagelandscapeskyvegetation

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, layering, and applying pointillist techniques to create depth and texture. It also encourages observation of light and shadow within a complex natural scene.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees and the horizon line.
step 02
Establish a light underpainting with diluted colors to define the overall value structure.
step 03
Begin applying individual dots of color, starting with the darkest areas and gradually moving to the lighter ones.
step 04
Focus on layering different colors to create optical mixing and depth.
step 05
Pay attention to the variations in color within each area, such as the leaves and tree trunks.
step 06
Use smaller dots for distant objects and larger dots for closer objects to enhance the sense of perspective.
step 07
Continuously step back and assess the overall effect, adjusting colors and dot placement as needed.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · sap green · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · viridian

Achieve the various greens by mixing blues and yellows, and use white to lighten the tones. Create browns and earth tones by mixing umber with blues, reds, and yellows. Use complementary colors to create muted tones.

techniques

·pointillism
·optical mixing
·layering
·color temperature
·broken color

common pitfalls

→Over-blending the dots, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Using too few colors, leading to a flat and uninteresting painting.
→Ignoring the value structure, creating a lack of depth.
→Applying dots uniformly without considering the form and light.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints
·round brushes (sizes 0-4)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife

optional

·painting medium
·easel
·varnish

Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Small round brushes are essential for creating the pointillist effect. A limited palette can be used to simplify the color mixing process.

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