plate no. 4531
Landscape with Two Figures
Ivan Generalić, 1979
suitable for beginners
This painting is great for learning about color mixing to create a muted palette and practicing layering techniques to build up depth in the landscape. Students can also focus on creating simple, stylized forms.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the horizon line, trees, houses, and figures.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, blending to create subtle variations.
- step 03
Establish the base colors for the landscape, focusing on the overall green and brown tones.
- step 04
Paint the trees, using darker greens for the foliage and lighter browns for the trunks.
- step 05
Add the houses, paying attention to their simple shapes and the details of the roofs.
- step 06
Paint the figures, using muted colors and simple forms.
- step 07
Add details like the fence, cow, and small plants.
- step 08
Refine the colors and values, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
color palette
primary · sap green · raw umber · titanium white · sky blue
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · cadmium red light
Mix greens with blues and yellows, and browns with umber and sienna. Use white to create tints and grays to mute the colors.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·color mixing
- ·flat color application
- ·creating atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the simple, stylized aesthetic.
- →Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth in the landscape.
- →Making the figures too detailed compared to the rest of the painting.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic paints
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
- ·palette
- ·water container
- ·paper towels
- ·pencil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·easel
- ·retarder medium
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Acrylics are recommended for their quick drying time and ease of use.
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