plate no. 4394

Landscape of La Pedriza Madrid

Rubén de Luis, 2022

oilImpressionismlandscapelandscapemountainstreesskyfoliagepath

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective to depict distance. It also provides practice in capturing the essence of natural forms with expressive brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, dividing the canvas into sky, mountains, trees, and foreground.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blue, adding subtle variations for clouds.
step 03
Establish the mountain range with a base color of muted pinkish-brown, then add shadows and highlights to define the forms.
step 04
Begin layering the foliage with dark greens, gradually adding lighter greens and yellows to create depth and texture.
step 05
Use short, broken brushstrokes to suggest individual leaves and branches.
step 06
Paint the path in the foreground with earth tones, blending it into the surrounding foliage.
step 07
Refine the details, paying attention to the interplay of light and shadow.
step 08
Add final highlights to the foliage and mountains to create a sense of vibrancy.

color palette

primary · sap green · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium yellow · raw sienna · alizarin crimson

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, and adjust the hue with touches of red or brown. Achieve the mountain color by mixing burnt umber, white, and a touch of alizarin crimson.

techniques

·broken color
·layering
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details, resulting in a stiff and unnatural look.
→Using too much paint, causing the colors to become muddy.
→Neglecting the importance of value contrast, which can flatten the image.
→Failing to create a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (sap green, titanium white, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, yellow ochre)
·round brushes (#4, #6, #8)
·flat brushes (#6, #8)
·palette
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife