plate no. 9793

Old gates. Vel. Normandy.

oilRomanticismlandscapetreesgateslandscapefoliagefigurefield

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and layering techniques to create depth. It also provides practice in rendering textures of brick, foliage, and grass with loose brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the gates, trees, and horizon line.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by blocking in large areas of color for the sky, field, and foliage.
step 03
Begin layering in the darker values to create depth and form, especially in the trees and foreground.
step 04
Add details to the brick gates, using short, broken brushstrokes to suggest texture.
step 05
Develop the foliage and grass with a variety of greens, yellows, and browns, using loose, expressive brushstrokes.
step 06
Introduce the figure, paying attention to its placement and proportion within the landscape.
step 07
Refine the details and add highlights to create a sense of light and atmosphere.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to achieve a cohesive and harmonious composition.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white · Prussian blue

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · sap green

Mix various shades of green by combining yellow ochre, Prussian blue, and a touch of burnt umber. Achieve the brick color by mixing burnt umber with alizarin crimson and a touch of yellow ochre.

techniques

·layering
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·broken color

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality of the original.
→Creating too much contrast and flattening the sense of depth.
→Using colors that are too saturated and unnatural.
→Neglecting the importance of atmospheric perspective in creating distance.