plate no. 4102
Landscape
Alfred Parsons, 1890
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and layering techniques to create depth in a landscape. It also provides practice in mixing subtle variations of greens and grays.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and placement of major tree masses.
- step 02
Establish the sky with broad strokes, blending light and dark grays to suggest cloud formations.
- step 03
Block in the distant treeline with dark greens and blues to create depth.
- step 04
Begin layering the midground trees and foliage, using a variety of green tones.
- step 05
Add details to the foreground, focusing on individual leaves and branches.
- step 06
Introduce highlights and shadows to create form and dimension.
- step 07
Refine the cloud shapes and add subtle variations in color.
- step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed to create a cohesive composition.
color palette
primary · viridian green · raw umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna
Mix greens by blending viridian green with raw umber and titanium white. Use ultramarine blue and burnt sienna to create dark grays for the sky and distant trees.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·scumbling
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details in the foreground, losing the sense of depth.
- →Using too much pure green, resulting in an unnatural appearance.
- →Failing to establish a clear value structure, leading to a flat painting.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the sky and foliage.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·oil paints (viridian green, raw umber, titanium white, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, burnt sienna)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·rags
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·varnish
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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