plate no. 8692

Maple Saplings

Tom Thomson, 1917

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)landscapetreesforestleavesautumnlandscapesaplings

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and using broken color to represent light and texture. It also provides practice in simplifying complex natural forms into expressive brushstrokes.

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 trees and the overall composition with light pencil lines.
step 02
Establish the background colors, focusing on the cool greens and blues of the distant trees.
step 03
Block in the larger areas of color in the foreground, using a mix of warm and cool tones.
step 04
Begin layering in the details of the leaves, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 05
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 06
Refine the shapes of the trees and branches, paying attention to their unique forms.
step 07
Add final touches of color and texture to the foreground.
step 08
Step back and assess the overall balance and harmony of the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · sap green · raw umber

Achieve the various greens by mixing ultramarine blue and yellow ochre, adjusting the ratio for warmer or cooler tones. Use burnt sienna and cadmium red for the autumn leaves, and white to create highlights.

techniques