plate no. 5178
Landscape in Ittre
Marthe Donas, 1924
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes: horizon line, building, field divisions, and tree placement.
- step 02
Block in the sky with broad strokes of light blue and white, indicating cloud formations.
- step 03
Apply a base layer of green to the field, varying the tones to suggest depth and undulation.
- step 04
Paint the building with a dark roof and lighter walls, simplifying the details.
- step 05
Add the line of trees in the background using a darker green-blue mix.
- step 06
Paint the foreground field with yellow-green, blending into the darker green.
- step 07
Add the vertical trees on the right with teal and brown, using visible brushstrokes.
- step 08
Add the fence posts with dark brown, creating a sense of perspective.
color palette
primary · green · blue · white · brown
secondary · yellow · teal · grey
Mix different shades of green by combining blue and yellow with varying amounts of white. Achieve the teal color for the trees by mixing blue and green with a touch of brown.
techniques
- ·impasto
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Creating a flat, uniform green field without variations in color and value.
- →Making the tree trunks too uniform and lacking in texture.
- →Not simplifying the building enough.
materials
surface · Stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas
- ·Acrylic or oil paints
- ·Round brushes (various sizes)
- ·Flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·Palette
- ·Palette knife
- ·Linseed oil (if using oil paints)
- ·Odorless mineral spirits (for cleaning brushes)
optional
- ·Painting medium
- ·Easel
- ·Apron
Use a canvas with a medium texture to enhance the visibility of the brushstrokes. Acrylics will dry faster, while oils allow for more blending time.
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