plate no. 0938

Landscape with Trees, Santa Monica

Paul Wonner, 1964

oilContemporary Realismlandscapetreespalm treesroadskycarlandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors and creating depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in capturing the essence of a scene with simplified forms and expressive brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees, road, and horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin layer of light blue, allowing for variations in tone.
step 03
Establish the basic shapes of the trees with dark greens and browns, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Paint the road with a mix of gray and blue, indicating the perspective and direction.
step 05
Add the details of the palm fronds using short, broken brushstrokes of varying greens.
step 06
Introduce the car with simplified shapes and colors, focusing on its overall form.
step 07
Refine the shadows and highlights on the trees and ground to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final details and adjust colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · sap green · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium yellow · ultramarine blue · raw sienna

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, and use burnt umber and white to create various shades of brown and gray. Achieve atmospheric perspective by lightening and desaturating colors in the distance.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·layering
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using colors that are too saturated and not reflecting the atmospheric perspective.
→Ignoring the direction of light and shadow.