plate no. 2843

Italian Landscape, Cypresses

Louis Valtat, 1902

oil, panelFauvismlandscapetreeslandscapeskyhillsfoliagecypress trees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and layering colors to create depth and texture. It also encourages understanding of simplified forms and color relationships 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 composition, focusing on the placement of the cypress trees and the horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky with broad strokes of blue and white, allowing for some visible brushwork.
step 03
Establish the general areas of the landscape with green, yellow, and blue, using a broken brushstroke technique.
step 04
Define the shapes of the cypress trees with dark greens and blues, using vertical strokes to emphasize their height.
step 05
Add details to the foliage in the foreground with varied greens, yellows, and touches of red and purple.
step 06
Create texture by layering different colors and allowing some of the underpainting to show through.
step 07
Refine the shapes and values of the cypress trees, adding highlights and shadows.
step 08
Add final touches and details to the foreground foliage and flowers.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Emerald green · Lemon yellow · Titanium white

secondary · Cadmium red · Ultramarine blue · Sap green

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, and use white to lighten colors and create variations in tone. Achieve darker tones by mixing blues and greens with a touch of red.

techniques