plate no. 3746

Lake

Henri Le Fauconnier, 1911

oilCubismlandscapelakemountainstreesbuildinglandscapehills

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand simplified forms and planes in landscape painting, as well as how to use a limited palette to create a cohesive image. Students will also learn to apply paint in distinct, visible brushstrokes.

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 and composition, focusing on the large masses of land and water.
step 02
Establish the sky and water with broad strokes of diluted paint, capturing the overall tone.
step 03
Block in the major landforms with simplified shapes, using a limited palette of earth tones and greens.
step 04
Define the building on the island with simple geometric forms and white paint.
step 05
Add details to the foreground, such as trees and bushes, using visible brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the shapes and edges of the landforms, paying attention to the planes and angles.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Review the painting and make any necessary adjustments to the composition or color balance.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · viridian green

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Mix raw umber and white for the lighter earth tones. Add small amounts of viridian green or ultramarine blue to the earth tones to create variations in the landscape. Use white straight from the tube for the building.

techniques

·blocking in
·simplified forms
·visible brushstrokes
·limited palette
·geometric shapes

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Getting bogged down in details and neglecting the overall composition.
→Using too many colors and creating a muddy or chaotic effect.
→Not simplifying the forms enough, resulting in a cluttered and confusing image.