plate no. 6365

Landscape with Three Cypresses

Maurice de Vlaminck, 1912

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismlandscapelandscapetreeshouseshillsskyvillage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and using expressive brushstrokes to convey texture and movement. It's also a good exercise in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of the trees, houses, and hills.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin layer of blue and gray, blending the colors softly.
step 03
Establish the main areas of green in the landscape, varying the shades and tones.
step 04
Add the dark green of the cypress trees, using bold, vertical brushstrokes.
step 05
Paint the houses with light yellow and white, adding small details for windows and roofs.
step 06
Develop the foreground with darker greens and browns, suggesting foliage and shadows.
step 07
Refine the details and add highlights to create depth and interest.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust the overall balance of the painting.

color palette

primary · viridian green · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · cadmium yellow

Mix greens by combining viridian green with yellow ochre or cadmium yellow. Create darker greens by adding burnt umber. Use white to lighten the yellows for the houses.

techniques