plate no. 4279

Old Church at Giverny

oilImpressionismlandscapelandscapechurchtreesfieldskybuilding

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in impressionistic brushwork and color mixing to create a sense of light and atmosphere. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the church, trees, and horizon line.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color with thin washes, establishing the overall value structure.
step 03
Begin layering thicker paint, using short, broken brushstrokes to represent the foliage and grass.
step 04
Mix a variety of greens, yellows, and browns to capture the nuances of the landscape.
step 05
Pay attention to the direction of light and shadow, adding highlights and dark accents to create depth.
step 06
Add details to the church, simplifying its form and focusing on the play of light on its surface.
step 07
Refine the foreground with small dabs of color to create texture and interest.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to enhance the overall impression of light and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · sap green · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, and use white to lighten values. Create earth tones by mixing browns, yellows, and blues. Use small amounts of red to neutralize greens.

techniques