plate no. 3117
Landscape
Theodore Robinson, 1889
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, and in using loose brushstrokes to capture the essence of a landscape. It will also help with understanding atmospheric perspective.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and the path.
- step 02
Establish the sky with a thin wash of yellow and white.
- step 03
Block in the distant landscape with muted blues and greens.
- step 04
Lay in the basic colors of the field, using greens, yellows, and browns.
- step 05
Add darker values to create shadows and define the path.
- step 06
Use short, broken brushstrokes to create texture in the field.
- step 07
Add highlights to the grass and foliage to suggest sunlight.
- step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a sense of depth.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · sap green · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · ultramarine blue · raw sienna
Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Use burnt umber to darken colors and create shadows. Add white to lighten colors and create highlights.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
- →Creating colors that are too saturated and unnatural.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Making the brushstrokes too uniform and lacking variety.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·sap green oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
Use a medium-tooth canvas to allow for texture. Consider using a fast-drying medium to speed up the drying time.
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