plate no. 7934

Low Country Cottonwood

Maynard Dixon, 1940

oilImpressionismlandscapetreelandscapeskybuildingmountainsfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle variations in light and shadow, and practice layering brushstrokes to create texture and form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the tree, landscape, and building, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, gradually darkening towards the top.
step 03
Establish the main values of the tree foliage with a base layer of yellow ochre and burnt sienna.
step 04
Add darker values to the foliage using mixtures of burnt umber and ultramarine blue to create shadows.
step 05
Paint the tree trunk with a mix of grey and white, adding subtle shadows to define its form.
step 06
Block in the background landscape with muted greens and browns, suggesting distant mountains.
step 07
Add details to the building, using a limited palette of browns and greys.
step 08
Refine the foreground with textured brushstrokes, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

secondary · titanium white · burnt umber

Mix yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the base foliage. Add ultramarine blue to create shadows in the foliage and landscape. Use titanium white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques