plate no. 4571
L'orage
Léo Gausson, 1899
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective, color mixing to create depth, and layering techniques to build up texture and form.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and placement of the haystacks.
- step 02
Establish the overall warm tone of the sky with a thin wash of burnt sienna and yellow ochre.
- step 03
Add darker tones to the clouds using a mix of burnt umber and ultramarine blue, blending softly.
- step 04
Block in the field with a base layer of green, gradually adding darker and lighter tones to create depth.
- step 05
Paint the haystacks using a mix of yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and white, paying attention to the light and shadow.
- step 06
Refine the details of the clouds and sky, adding highlights and subtle color variations.
- step 07
Add final details to the field and haystacks, such as individual blades of grass and texture.
- step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and create a sense of atmosphere.
color palette
primary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue
secondary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium yellow
Achieve the warm sunset glow by mixing burnt sienna and yellow ochre. Create the dark clouds by mixing burnt umber and ultramarine blue. Use white to lighten the colors and create highlights.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·layering
- ·glazing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overblending the clouds, resulting in a flat and lifeless sky.
- →Using too much white, which can make the colors appear chalky.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the field and haystacks.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas 18x24
- ·Burnt sienna oil paint
- ·Yellow ochre oil paint
- ·Ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·Titanium white oil paint
- ·Burnt umber oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium such as linseed oil can be used to thin the paints and improve flow.
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