plate no. 5550
Landscape (Cassis)
Rupert Bunny, 1931
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as practicing loose, impressionistic brushstrokes to capture the essence of the scene.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees, mountain, and horizon line.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue-gray wash, allowing some variation in tone.
- step 03
Establish the base color of the field with a mix of ochre and brown, varying the tones slightly.
- step 04
Paint the mountain in the background using shades of gray and blue, softening the edges to create atmospheric perspective.
- step 05
Begin adding the trees, starting with the larger trees in the foreground. Use a mix of browns and grays for the trunks and branches.
- step 06
Add the pink blossoms to the trees using small, broken brushstrokes. Vary the intensity of the pink to create depth.
- step 07
Paint the smaller trees and foliage in the midground, using a similar technique to the foreground trees.
- step 08
Add details to the field, such as the rows of plants, using short, broken brushstrokes.
color palette
primary · ochre · titanium white · burnt umber
secondary · light blue · cadmium red · gray
Mix ochre and burnt umber for the field. Use white to lighten the sky and foliage. Mix red and white for the pink blossoms.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·layering
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic feel.
- →Making the colors too saturated and unnatural.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- →Not varying the brushstrokes enough to create texture.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ochre oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·light blue oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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