plate no. 2328

Landscape

Emil Carlsen, 1919

oilImpressionismlandscapetreesforestlandscapewoodsground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as rendering tree forms with loose, expressive brushstrokes. It's a good exercise in capturing the overall impression of a scene rather than focusing on minute details.

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 and the horizon line.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by applying a thin wash of burnt umber and raw sienna to the canvas.
step 03
Begin layering in the darker values of the forest background, using a mix of greens and browns.
step 04
Add the tree trunks, varying their thickness and color to create depth.
step 05
Develop the foliage with short, broken brushstrokes, using lighter greens and yellows to suggest sunlight.
step 06
Define the ground plane with a mix of browns, oranges, and yellows, adding subtle variations in tone.
step 07
Refine the details of the trees and foliage, paying attention to the direction of light and shadow.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · sap green

secondary · yellow ochre · titanium white · ultramarine blue

Mix greens by combining sap green with yellow ochre or ultramarine blue. Use burnt umber and raw sienna to create a range of warm browns for the ground and tree trunks. Add white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques

·layering
·dry brushing
·broken color
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impression.
→Creating a flat, uniform ground plane.
→Making the tree trunks too symmetrical or evenly spaced.
→Using too much white, which can make the colors appear chalky.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, sap green, yellow ochre, titanium white, ultramarine blue)
·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·rags