Old Woman Burning Leaves

approach — 8 steps

color palette

primary · olive green · burnt umber · raw sienna

secondary · gray · yellow ochre · titanium white

Achieve the muted greens by mixing olive green, burnt umber, and a touch of yellow ochre. The atmospheric effects are created by layering thin washes of diluted paint, often with white added for opacity.

techniques

• ·dry brushing
• ·scumbling
• ·glazing
• ·atmospheric perspective
• ·tonal painting

common pitfalls

• →Overworking the details, which can flatten the image and lose the impressionistic feel.
• →Failing to establish a clear sense of depth, resulting in a flat and unconvincing landscape.
• →Ignoring the subtle tonal variations, which are crucial for creating atmosphere and mood.
• →Making the figure too stiff or unnatural, which can detract from the overall composition.