plate no. 5375

Landspace with a Walking Figure

oilExpressionismlandscapelandscapefiguretreesbuildingsskyrooftops

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, and simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and forms. It also introduces the expressive use of brushstrokes.

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 lightly onto the canvas, focusing on the placement of the buildings, trees, and figure.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and then moving to the background trees and buildings.
step 03
Add the mid-ground elements, focusing on the rooftops and the shapes of the trees.
step 04
Paint the figure in the foreground, simplifying the details and focusing on the overall form and color.
step 05
Develop the texture of the trees and foliage using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Refine the details of the buildings and figure, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · viridian green · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

secondary · burnt sienna · titanium white · ivory black

Mix greens by combining blue and yellow. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights. Mix browns and grays by combining complementary colors like red and green, or blue and orange.

techniques

·broken color
·layering
·dry brushing
·color mixing
·simplification of form

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic effect.
→Creating mud by over-mixing colors on the canvas.
→Failing to establish a clear value structure.
→Not simplifying the forms enough, resulting in a cluttered composition.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (viridian green, cadmium red, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, titanium white, ivory black)
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·rags