plate no. 8619

Landscape at Sunset

Felix Vallotton, 1919

oil, canvasMagic Realismlandscapelandscapesunsettreesskyfieldsilhouette

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice color mixing for atmospheric effects and learn how to create depth using value and color temperature changes. It's also a good exercise in simplifying complex shapes into basic forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, dividing the canvas into sky, land, and foreground.
step 02
Block in the large shapes of the sky with broad strokes, focusing on the overall color transitions.
step 03
Establish the dark silhouette of the landmass, paying attention to its shape and how it interacts with the sky.
step 04
Add the tree silhouettes, varying their sizes and shapes for visual interest.
step 05
Begin layering colors in the sky, blending and softening edges to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 06
Introduce highlights and shadows to the foreground field, adding subtle variations in color.
step 07
Refine the details of the trees, adding small branches and leaves to suggest texture.
step 08
Adjust the overall color balance and value contrast to achieve the desired mood.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson · titanium white

secondary · violet · orange · green

Mix various shades of purple by combining alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue. Achieve the sunset glow by blending yellow ochre, alizarin crimson, and white. Create muted greens by mixing ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, and a touch of crimson.

techniques

·color blending
·silhouette painting
·atmospheric perspective
·scumbling
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the colors and losing the freshness of the initial layers.
→Making the tree silhouettes too uniform and lacking visual interest.
→Failing to create a convincing sense of depth in the sky.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the foreground field.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, alizarin crimson, titanium white, burnt umber)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Assorted brushes (flat and round)
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags