plate no. 2382
Marnat
Émilie Charmy, 1914
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork and simplifying complex forms into basic shapes. It also encourages exploration of color mixing to achieve naturalistic greens and browns.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the trees, fence, and horizon line.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a thin layer of light blue, leaving some canvas showing through.
- step 03
Establish the dark masses of the trees with a mix of dark green and brown.
- step 04
Add lighter greens and yellows to the foliage, using short, broken brushstrokes.
- step 05
Paint the fence using a mix of browns and grays, varying the tones to create depth.
- step 06
Add details to the foreground foliage, using brighter greens and touches of red.
- step 07
Refine the shapes and values, paying attention to the overall balance of the composition.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · viridian green · raw umber · cerulean blue
secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · titanium white
Mix greens by combining blue and yellow, adding brown to darken. Achieve earth tones by mixing brown with small amounts of blue, green, or red.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·alla prima
- ·scumbling
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
- →Failing to establish a clear sense of depth.
- →Neglecting the importance of value contrast.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
Use a limited palette to simplify color mixing. Consider using a toned canvas to create a more unified effect.
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