plate no. 9966
Laguna Vista
Benjamin Brown, 1915
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in impressionistic brushwork and color mixing to create a sense of light and atmosphere. It will also teach them how to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and colors.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees, horizon line, and distant hills.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, water, hills, and foreground.
- step 03
Establish the basic values and color temperatures in the sky and water.
- step 04
Begin adding details to the trees, using short, broken brushstrokes to suggest leaves and branches.
- step 05
Develop the foreground with layers of warm and cool colors, using directional strokes to create a sense of depth.
- step 06
Refine the shapes and colors of the distant hills, paying attention to atmospheric perspective.
- step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create form and dimension.
- step 08
Step back and assess the overall balance and harmony of the painting, making any necessary adjustments.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · titanium white
secondary · sap green · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson
Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Create variations in the foreground by mixing burnt sienna with yellow ochre and touches of alizarin crimson. Use white to lighten values and create atmospheric perspective in the sky and distant hills.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·impasto
- ·scumbling
- ·alla prima
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the impressionistic style.
- →Using too much detail in the background, which can flatten the perspective.
- →Creating mud by over-mixing colors on the palette or canvas.
- →Not paying attention to the direction of light and shadow.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·rags
optional
- ·painting medium (e.g., Liquin)
- ·easel
- ·varnish
Use a canvas with a medium texture to allow for visible brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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