plate no. 5186

Old Tree near Runswick, North Yorkshire

oilRomanticismlandscapetreelandscapeskyhillsfoliageclouds

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as understanding how to depict atmospheric perspective. Students will also learn to simplify complex forms into basic shapes.

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 tree, hills, and sky, paying attention to the composition.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by applying thin washes of color to the canvas.
step 03
Begin building up the layers of color in the sky, blending the tones to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 04
Focus on the hills, using darker values in the distance to create depth and lighter values in the foreground.
step 05
Paint the tree trunk and branches, paying attention to the direction of light and shadow.
step 06
Add details to the foliage, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values as needed to create a cohesive and balanced painting.
step 08
Add final highlights to capture the light.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · raw sienna

Mix yellow ochre and burnt umber for the earth tones. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky, adding a touch of burnt umber to grey it down. Mix raw sienna with burnt umber to get the darker tones of the tree.

techniques