plate no. 9012

La colline noire

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapelandscapehillcloudsfieldtreessky

some experience helpful

This painting is a good exercise in capturing light and shadow across a landscape using visible brushstrokes. Recreating it will help students practice color mixing and creating depth through value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes: the hill, the horizon line, and the cloud formations.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the sky, the hill, and the fields, using thin washes.
step 03
Establish the darkest values on the hill and in the shadows of the fields.
step 04
Begin adding details to the fields, indicating the different planes and textures with directional brushstrokes.
step 05
Develop the sky, layering different shades of blue and white to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 06
Refine the shapes of the clouds, paying attention to the way light and shadow define their form.
step 07
Add details to the trees and bushes, using small, broken brushstrokes.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a sense of depth and harmony.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Cadmium yellow · Titanium white · Burnt umber

secondary · Yellow ochre · Viridian · Alizarin crimson

Mix greens by combining blue and yellow, adjusting the ratio for different shades. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights. Mix burnt umber with blue to create dark greens and blacks for the hill.

techniques

·Broken color
·Impasto
·Scumbling
·Layering
·Color Mixing

common pitfalls

→Overblending the colors, resulting in a flat, lifeless surface.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure, leading to a lack of depth.
→Ignoring the direction of light, resulting in inconsistent shadows.
→Getting bogged down in details too early, before establishing the overall composition.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (Prussian blue, Cadmium yellow, Titanium white, Burnt umber, Yellow ochre, Viridian)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Rags