plate no. 9067

Landscape with Birch trees

Vilhelms Purvitis, 1910

oilImpressionismlandscapetreeswaterlandscapebirch treesskyreflection

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle tonal variations and layering techniques to create depth and atmosphere. Students will also learn to depict reflections in water and create a sense of perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees, shoreline, and horizon line.
step 02
Establish the overall warm, golden tone of the sky and water with a thin wash of color.
step 03
Block in the shapes of the trees and foliage using darker values, paying attention to the light source.
step 04
Begin layering colors to create depth and dimension in the trees and foliage, using a variety of greens, browns, and yellows.
step 05
Paint the reflections in the water, mirroring the colors and shapes of the trees and sky.
step 06
Add details to the birch trees, including the characteristic dark markings on the bark.
step 07
Refine the details of the shoreline and foreground, adding texture and variation to the rocks and grass.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to create a sense of harmony and balance.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white · sap green

secondary · ultramarine blue · raw sienna · cadmium yellow light

Achieve the golden light by mixing yellow ochre and white, with small amounts of burnt umber for shadows. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create muted greens for the foliage. Mix white with small amounts of other colors to create the hazy atmosphere.

techniques

·layering
·blending
·scumbling
·glazing
·broken color

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic effect.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
→Using colors that are too saturated and not harmonizing with the overall warm tone.
→Not paying attention to the reflections in the water.