plate no. 1893

Landscape

Henri Catargi, 1927

oilImpressionismlandscapelandscapetreeshillsskyfieldpath

suitable for beginners

Recreating this painting will help students understand atmospheric perspective and practice layering colors to create depth. It also provides a good exercise in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the hills, trees, and path, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue-gray mix, blending it smoothly.
step 03
Establish the base color of the field with a mix of ochre and burnt sienna, varying the tone slightly to suggest undulation.
step 04
Paint the distant hills with muted browns and greens, using lighter values to create atmospheric perspective.
step 05
Add the trees, focusing on their overall shapes and using darker greens and browns for shadows.
step 06
Define the path with lighter values and subtle variations in color.
step 07
Add details such as shadows under the trees and highlights on the hills.
step 08
Refine the overall composition and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · burnt sienna · sap green

Mix the sky color by combining white with a touch of ultramarine blue and raw umber. Achieve the field color by blending yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a small amount of raw umber. Use white to lighten the tones for the sky and distant hills.

techniques