plate no. 3398
Landscape with Figures
Chaim Soutine, 1919
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and capturing the essence of a scene rather than precise details. It's a good exercise in simplifying forms and using color to create mood.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition: the path, buildings, and tree masses.
- step 02
Block in the sky with light blues and whites, using loose brushstrokes.
- step 03
Establish the dark green masses of the trees and bushes, varying the shades of green.
- step 04
Paint the path using a mix of yellows, browns, and greens, following the perspective.
- step 05
Add the red roofs of the buildings, keeping the colors vibrant.
- step 06
Define the figures with simple shapes and colors.
- step 07
Add details to the trees and bushes using short, expressive brushstrokes.
- step 08
Refine the overall composition and adjust colors as needed.
color palette
primary · viridian green · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · burnt umber
Mix greens by combining viridian green with yellow ochre and a touch of burnt umber for darker shades. Achieve the path color by mixing yellow ochre, white, and small amounts of green and brown.
techniques
- ·expressive brushstrokes
- ·alla prima (wet-on-wet)
- ·color mixing
- ·simplifying forms
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality.
- →Using too many colors and creating a muddy effect.
- →Not establishing the correct values early on.
- →Being too precise with the shapes and forms.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·round brushes (#2, #6, #8)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
Use a medium-sized canvas to allow for expressive brushstrokes. Consider using a fast-drying medium to speed up the drying time.
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