plate no. 0408

Landscape of Xàtiva

Alejandro Cabeza, 1988

oil, canvasContemporary Realismlandscapelandscapehillsskytreesbuildingground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and loose, expressive brushwork to suggest form and texture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the horizon line, the large hill on the left, and the general layout of the foreground.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of blues and yellows, blending them to create a soft, atmospheric effect.
step 03
Establish the dark masses of the hills and trees using a mix of browns and blacks, paying attention to the overall value structure.
step 04
Begin adding details to the foreground, using short, broken brushstrokes to suggest the texture of the ground.
step 05
Introduce lighter values to indicate highlights on the hills and trees, creating a sense of depth and dimension.
step 06
Add the small building in the mid-ground with simple shapes and muted colors.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values as needed, ensuring that the overall composition is balanced and harmonious.
step 08
Add final touches, such as subtle color variations and textural details, to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

secondary · titanium white · cadmium red light

Mix browns and blacks for the hills and trees, using more blue in the shadows and more yellow in the highlights. Create the sky by blending blues, yellows, and white.

techniques

·dry brush
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·value studies
·broken color

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality of the original.
→Creating too much contrast and flattening the sense of depth.
→Using colors that are too saturated and unnatural.
→Neglecting the importance of value in creating form and space.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, titanium white, cadmium red light)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags