plate no. 5091

Les Pommiers

Carolus-Duran, 1900

oilRealismlandscapelandscapetreesskymountainscloudsgrass

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and layering colors to create depth. It also provides practice in rendering foliage with loose brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, paying attention to the horizon line and the placement of the mountains, trees, and clouds.
step 02
Block in the sky with broad strokes, establishing the light and dark areas of the clouds.
step 03
Establish the base colors for the mountains and the water, considering the atmospheric perspective.
step 04
Lay in the base color for the grass, noting the variations in tone and color.
step 05
Add the trees, starting with the trunks and then adding the foliage with broken brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the details of the clouds, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 07
Add details to the foreground, such as individual blades of grass and small flowers.
step 08
Adjust the overall color balance and value contrast to create a sense of harmony.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · sap green · cadmium yellow

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, and a touch of burnt umber. Achieve atmospheric perspective by adding white to the colors of distant objects.

techniques

·broken color
·atmospheric perspective
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details
→Ignoring atmospheric perspective
→Using too much green without variation
→Creating flat, lifeless clouds

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·ultramarine blue oil paint
·yellow ochre oil paint
·titanium white oil paint
·burnt umber oil paint
·sap green oil paint
·#6 round brush
·#8 flat brush

optional

·palette knife
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·medium gloss

Use a medium-textured canvas to allow for better paint adhesion and brushstroke visibility. Consider using a limited palette to achieve color harmony.

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