plate no. 5266
Landscape with Road
Janos Mattis-Teutsch, 1916
suitable for beginners
This painting is a good exercise in simplifying a landscape into basic shapes and using a limited color palette to create a harmonious composition. Students will learn to mix greens and yellows and apply paint with visible brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the road, hills, and tree masses.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a flat layer of yellow.
- step 03
Mix varying shades of green and yellow for the foliage and apply with visible brushstrokes, following the forms.
- step 04
Create the road with a light beige/tan color, adding subtle variations.
- step 05
Add the tree trunks using a light gray with hints of blue or green.
- step 06
Define the edges of the road and foliage with a thin line of a darker color.
- step 07
Add highlights to the foliage and road with lighter shades of yellow and green.
- step 08
Review the painting and adjust colors and values as needed to achieve a cohesive look.
color palette
primary · yellow · green · beige
secondary · light gray · pink
Mix greens by combining yellow with a touch of blue or black. Achieve the beige color by mixing white, yellow, and a small amount of brown or red. Vary the greens and yellows by adding more or less yellow, white, or blue.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·visible brushstrokes
- ·color mixing
- ·simplification of form
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Creating too much detail, losing the simplified style.
- →Using too many colors, disrupting the harmony.
- →Not varying the brushstrokes enough, resulting in a flat appearance.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·yellow paint
- ·green paint
- ·white paint
- ·beige paint
- ·round brush
- ·flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium (for oil paints)
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas to enhance the texture of the brushstrokes. Acrylics will dry faster, while oils allow for more blending time.
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