plate no. 5416

Landscape

Viorel Marginean, 2009

oilExpressionismlandscapelandscapetreesfieldshillsskybirds

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, and in simplifying complex scenes into stylized shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the hills, fields, and tree lines, establishing the overall composition.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue wash, leaving some areas lighter for clouds.
step 03
Apply base colors to the hills and fields, using greens, yellows, and browns.
step 04
Begin layering colors to create the foliage of the trees, using oranges, reds, yellows, and browns.
step 05
Add details to the fields, such as rows of crops and small buildings.
step 06
Paint the birds in the sky, paying attention to their shapes and positions.
step 07
Add small details like the white flowers on the hillsides.
step 08
Refine the colors and values throughout the painting, adjusting as needed.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · cadmium orange · sap green · cerulean blue

secondary · burnt sienna · titanium white · ultramarine blue

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, and create a range of browns and oranges by mixing earth tones with reds and yellows. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques

·layering
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·color mixing
·simplification

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic feel.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing, resulting in a flat and uninteresting palette.
→Not establishing a clear focal point, leading to a cluttered composition.
→Failing to create depth by not varying the colors and values in the different planes of the landscape.