plate no. 8921
La Butte
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and layering techniques to create depth. They will also learn to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and values.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees and buildings.
- step 02
Establish the horizon line and the main areas of the background, middle ground, and foreground.
- step 03
Block in the sky with a light, muted color, blending it smoothly.
- step 04
Add the distant cityscape with soft, blurry strokes, using lighter values.
- step 05
Paint the middle ground with the buildings and fences, adding more detail and darker values.
- step 06
Paint the trees with thin, vertical strokes, varying the thickness and color.
- step 07
Add the foreground details, such as the ground and any small objects, using darker values and more texture.
- step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow
Mix muted tones by combining complementary colors. Use white to lighten values and create atmospheric haze.
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall atmospheric effect.
- →Making the colors too saturated and bright.
- →Not creating enough contrast between the foreground and background.
- →Failing to simplify the complex shapes of the buildings and trees.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use a medium-tooth canvas for a slightly textured effect.
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