plate no. 3231

On the Hillside

Leon Dabo, 1916

oilImpressionismlandscapelandscapetreeshillsskyfiguresbuilding

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting would help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and subtle color blending to create depth and mood. It also provides practice in simplifying 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 composition, focusing on the placement of the hills, trees, and figures.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme with a thin wash of diluted paint, focusing on the sky and distant hills.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the trees and foreground hills, using slightly darker and more saturated greens.
step 04
Begin layering colors to create depth and dimension in the hills, using lighter greens and blues for areas further away.
step 05
Add details to the trees, focusing on the variations in color and texture.
step 06
Paint the figures with simple shapes and muted colors, blending them into the surrounding landscape.
step 07
Refine the sky with subtle variations in color and value, creating a sense of atmosphere.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · viridian green · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

Achieve the muted greens by mixing viridian green with yellow ochre and titanium white. Use ultramarine blue to cool down the greens and create atmospheric perspective. Burnt umber can be used to darken shadows and add depth.

techniques