plate no. 2295

Landscape with trees, houses and river

oilRomanticismlandscapetreeslandscapehouseriverfigurepath

some experience helpful

This painting offers practice in rendering atmospheric perspective and creating depth through layering of foliage. Students can develop skills in color mixing to achieve realistic greens and browns.

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, house, and path.
step 02
Establish the sky and distant background with thin washes of color.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the trees and foliage, using darker values in the foreground.
step 04
Begin layering colors to create depth and variation in the foliage, using a mix of greens, browns, and yellows.
step 05
Add details to the house and figure, paying attention to their relative scale.
step 06
Refine the path and foreground, adding highlights and shadows to create texture.
step 07
Paint the water and reflections, using horizontal brushstrokes.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · sap green · raw umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow light

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, and vary the tones by adding browns or white. Achieve atmospheric perspective by lightening and desaturating colors in the distance.

techniques