plate no. 0809
Ludlow Walks
Philip Wilson Steer, 1898
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and loose, expressive brushwork to suggest form and texture. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into essential shapes and values.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: horizon line, mountain, trees, bridge, and the path.
- step 02
Establish the overall color scheme with a thin wash of diluted paint, focusing on the sky and distant landscape.
- step 03
Block in the larger masses of trees and foreground with broad strokes, paying attention to value differences.
- step 04
Begin to define the path and bridge, adding details with slightly smaller brushes.
- step 05
Add the figures, using simple shapes and colors to suggest their forms.
- step 06
Refine the details in the foreground, adding texture and highlights to the trees and grass.
- step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights to the figures and focal points.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · alizarin crimson
secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · cadmium yellow light
Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors (e.g., blue and orange) with white. Use raw umber and white for the base of the landscape, and mix alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue for the purplish hues in the sky and distant mountains.
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details
- →Creating overly saturated colors
- →Losing the sense of atmosphere
- →Making the figures too detailed and distracting
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas (12x16 or 16x20)
- ·oil paints (raw umber, titanium white, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre)
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat, sizes 2-8)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium (e.g., Liquin)
- ·easel
Use a limited palette to simplify color mixing and create a harmonious painting. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base color.
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