plate no. 8369

Lonely tree at the Gein Sun

Piet Mondrian, 1907

oilImpressionismlandscapetreeswaterlandscapeskyreflectionsvegetation

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and capturing reflections in water. It also emphasizes loose brushwork and simplifying complex forms.

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 horizon line and the placement of the main trees.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light, neutral tone, blending it softly.
step 03
Establish the water area with a base color, considering the overall tone and reflections.
step 04
Begin adding darker tones to define the trees and foliage, using loose, expressive brushstrokes.
step 05
Layer lighter greens and yellows to create highlights and variations in the foliage.
step 06
Add reflections in the water, mirroring the shapes and colors of the trees and sky.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values to create depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to enhance the overall impression.

color palette

primary · olive green · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · cerulean blue

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and olive green. Use raw umber and white to create the neutral sky tone. Add small amounts of cerulean blue to darken the greens and create depth.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·broken color
·scumbling
·layering
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in tone and color.
→Ignoring the importance of reflections in the water.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints (olive green, raw umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, cerulean blue)
·round brushes (#4, #6, #8)
·palette
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife
·rags