plate no. 7865
Jardin Du Luxembourg
Lois Mailou Jones, 1948
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork, color mixing for foliage, and creating depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in capturing figures in a landscape setting.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the building, fountain, trees, and figures.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of light blue and gray.
- step 03
Establish the basic color masses for the building and trees, focusing on value and temperature.
- step 04
Begin adding details to the building, using short, broken brushstrokes.
- step 05
Develop the foliage with layers of greens, yellows, and browns, varying the brushstrokes to create texture.
- step 06
Paint the figures with simple shapes and colors, suggesting their forms without precise detail.
- step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Refine the details and adjust the overall composition as needed.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · sap green · ultramarine blue · titanium white
secondary · burnt umber · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson
Mix greens by combining yellow ochre, sap green, and ultramarine blue. Use burnt umber and alizarin crimson for shadows and darker areas. Add white to lighten colors and create highlights.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·impasto
- ·scumbling
- ·alla prima
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Using colors straight from the tube without mixing.
- →Creating a flat, uniform texture.
- →Ignoring the importance of value and temperature in creating depth.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
Use a medium-grain canvas to allow for texture. A limited palette will help to create color harmony.
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