plate no. 5003
Landscape near Lyons
Matthew Smith, 1922
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and color mixing to create a vibrant and dynamic landscape. It also encourages simplification of forms and bold color choices.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, trees, and horizon line.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a thin layer of blue.
- step 03
Apply the dominant red color to the foreground fields and buildings, varying the intensity.
- step 04
Add dark greens and blacks to the trees, using broken brushstrokes.
- step 05
Introduce secondary colors like orange and yellow to the fields for highlights and variation.
- step 06
Use small touches of white to create highlights and texture.
- step 07
Refine the shapes and colors, paying attention to the overall balance of the composition.
- step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · viridian green
secondary · cadmium yellow · magenta · black
Mix greens by combining blue and yellow. Vary the red by adding touches of yellow or magenta. Use black sparingly to darken colors.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·impasto
- ·expressive brushwork
- ·color layering
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors and losing vibrancy.
- →Creating muddy areas by overworking the paint.
- →Failing to simplify the forms and details.
- →Not varying the brushstrokes enough.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oils)
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
Use a medium-sized canvas to allow for expressive brushstrokes. Consider using fast-drying acrylics for quicker results.
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