plate no. 1447

On the Coast

oilExpressionismlandscapelandscapetreesfieldskyfigureflowers

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 colors.

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 trees, figure, and horizon line.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, such as the sky, field, and trees, using thin washes.
step 03
Build up the texture of the field and trees with short, broken brushstrokes.
step 04
Mix various greens and yellows to capture the light and shadow in the field.
step 05
Add details to the trees and flowers, using darker greens and purples.
step 06
Paint the figure in red, keeping it simple and expressive.
step 07
Refine the composition and adjust the colors as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and sap green, and vary the shades by adding small amounts of blue or umber. Achieve the sky color by mixing cerulean blue with white and a touch of yellow.

techniques

·broken brushstrokes
·color mixing
·layering
·scumbling
·impasto

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Using too much detail and not simplifying the scene.
→Failing to capture the light and atmosphere of the landscape.
→Creating mud by overmixing colors.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints (yellow ochre, sap green, cerulean blue, titanium white, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, burnt umber)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife
·rags