plate no. 9880

Landscape

Henri-Edmond Cross, 1909

watercolorPost-Impressionismlandscapelandscapetreeshillsskyvegetation

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose watercolor washes and layering colors to create depth and texture. It also provides practice 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
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the hills, trees, and horizon line.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow and orange to the sky area.
step 03
Add a light blue wash to the distant hills and water.
step 04
Begin layering washes of blue and purple for the trees in the foreground, allowing colors to blend.
step 05
Add darker accents of black and dark blue to define the shapes of the trees and hills.
step 06
Use short, broken strokes to create texture in the foreground vegetation.
step 07
Add final details and highlights with lighter washes.
step 08
Allow to dry completely.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

secondary · purple · black · light green

Mix blues and purples for the trees, adding water to create lighter values. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the ground, and mix these with blue to create muted greens.

techniques