plate no. 2742

Orange Lilies, Broadway, Worcestershire

Alfred Parsons, 1911

oilRealismlandscapegardenflowerstreesskycloudslawn

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing for natural light and shadow, as well as layering techniques for creating depth in a landscape. It also provides practice in rendering various textures, from foliage to clouds.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the flowerbeds, trees, and sky.
step 02
Establish the sky with broad strokes of blue and white, blending for soft clouds.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the trees and foliage with dark greens and browns.
step 04
Begin layering the flowerbeds, starting with the darker shadows and gradually adding highlights.
step 05
Mix and apply the orange and white flower colors, paying attention to variations in hue and value.
step 06
Paint the lawn with a mix of greens and browns, adding shadows cast by the trees and flowers.
step 07
Add details such as the chickens and the table in the background.
step 08
Refine the highlights and shadows throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · cadmium orange · sap green

secondary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson

Achieve the various greens by mixing sap green with yellow ochre and burnt umber. Create the cloud colors by mixing ultramarine blue, titanium white, and a touch of burnt umber for the shadows.

techniques

·layering
·blending
·scumbling
·color mixing
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the flowerbeds, resulting in a flat and unrealistic appearance.
→Failing to create enough contrast between the highlights and shadows, making the painting look dull.
→Using too much pure white, which can make the painting look chalky.
→Ignoring the atmospheric perspective, causing the background to appear too sharp and close.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, titanium white, cadmium orange, sap green, burnt umber, yellow ochre, alizarin crimson)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife
·rags or paper towels