plate no. 6707

Landsape, Hills of Guerande

Ferdinand du Puigaudeau, 1915

oilImpressionismlandscapelandscapetreeshillsskyfigurevegetation

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, and in capturing the subtle light variations of a landscape scene. Students will also practice rendering complex tree structures and atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees, hills, and horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of yellow and pink hues, blending softly.
step 03
Establish the dark masses of the trees and bushes using a mix of dark greens and browns.
step 04
Begin layering colors in the foreground hills, using greens, browns, and blues to create texture and depth.
step 05
Add details to the trees, focusing on the intricate branch structure and the play of light and shadow.
step 06
Paint the distant landscape with muted colors to create atmospheric perspective.
step 07
Add the figure in the foreground, keeping it small and simple.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a cohesive and atmospheric scene.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · sap green · titanium white

secondary · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue · raw sienna

Achieve the muted greens by mixing sap green with burnt umber and yellow ochre. Create atmospheric perspective by adding white and a touch of blue to distant colors.

techniques