plate no. 7176

Olives in Spain

Augustus John, 1922

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapetreeslandscapehillsvegetationrockssky

some experience helpful

This painting is great for practicing broken color and layering to create depth. Students will learn to simplify complex forms into basic shapes and use color temperature to suggest distance.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition lightly with charcoal or diluted paint.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of yellow ochre and a touch of red.
step 03
Establish the main masses of the hills and rocks with a mid-tone gray-blue.
step 04
Add darker values to the shadows of the rocks and trees using a mix of burnt umber and blue.
step 05
Paint the foliage with varying shades of green, using broken color to suggest texture.
step 06
Introduce lighter values to the highlights on the rocks and trees.
step 07
Refine the details and edges, paying attention to the direction of the brushstrokes.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

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

secondary · sap green · cadmium red light

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Create grays by mixing burnt umber, ultramarine blue, and white. Use red to warm up the sky and add subtle highlights.

techniques

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

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details
→Creating mud by over-mixing colors
→Ignoring the overall value structure
→Not establishing a clear light source

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 12x16
·Oil paints: yellow ochre, burnt umber, ultramarine blue, titanium white, sap green, cadmium red light
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Palette knife
·Rags