plate no. 5116
Landscape with Green Trees or Beech Trees in Kerduel
Maurice Denis, 1893
suitable for beginners
Recreating this painting will help students understand simplified forms and color blocking. It also provides practice in creating depth through layering and atmospheric perspective.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
2
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees and figures.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue and white mixture.
- step 03
Paint the background foliage with a mix of green and yellow.
- step 04
Establish the base color for the trees using a green and blue mixture.
- step 05
Add variations in the tree trunks with darker and lighter greens.
- step 06
Paint the figures with simplified shapes using white and a touch of pink.
- step 07
Add the foreground grass with varying shades of green.
- step 08
Refine details and adjust colors as needed.
color palette
primary · green · blue · white
secondary · yellow · pink · purple
Mix greens by combining blue and yellow, and create variations by adding white or a touch of brown. Use white with a hint of pink for the figures.
techniques
- ·color blocking
- ·layering
- ·simplified forms
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details
- →Making the colors too saturated
- →Ignoring the overall composition
- →Not varying the shades of green
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brush #4
- ·flat brush #8
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·easel
- ·medium gloss
- ·rags
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Acrylics are more beginner-friendly, while oils offer richer colors and blending capabilities.
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