plate no. 4893

Leafless forest

oilRealismlandscapetreesforestlandscapegroundskyfigures

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand atmospheric perspective and how to create depth using value and color temperature. It also provides practice in painting complex organic shapes like tree branches.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the main tree and the horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of grey and white, establishing the overall value.
step 03
Establish the dark masses of the trees in the background, using a mix of browns and blacks.
step 04
Begin to define the foreground, focusing on the planes of the ground and the direction of light.
step 05
Add details to the main tree, paying attention to the branching structure and the texture of the bark.
step 06
Introduce subtle color variations in the grass and foliage, using greens, browns, and yellows.
step 07
Add the small figures in the distance, keeping them simple and indistinct.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · sap green

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · payne's gray

Mix various shades of green by combining sap green with raw umber and yellow ochre. Use Payne's gray to darken the tree trunks and branches. Create atmospheric perspective by lightening and desaturating colors as they recede into the distance.

techniques