plate no. 8648

Orchard

James Charles, 1904

oilImpressionismlandscapetreeslandscapefoliageskyorchardground

some experience helpful

This painting is great for practicing broken color and layering techniques to create depth in foliage. Students can learn to simplify complex scenes into manageable brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the trees and the horizon line.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, ground, and foliage using thin washes.
step 03
Begin layering darker values in the shadows of the trees and foliage.
step 04
Add lighter values to the areas of the foliage that are catching the light.
step 05
Use short, broken brushstrokes to create the texture of the leaves and blossoms.
step 06
Refine the shapes of the trees and branches, paying attention to their structure.
step 07
Add details to the foreground, such as small plants and shadows.
step 08
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of harmony and depth.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · sap green · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · alizarin crimson · cerulean blue

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and sap green; lighten with titanium white. Use alizarin crimson to create pinks for the blossoms and to warm up the browns.

techniques

·broken color
·layering
·dry brush
·scumbling
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details
→Creating mud by overmixing colors
→Ignoring the underlying structure of the trees
→Not varying the brushstrokes enough

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 12x16
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, sap green, burnt umber, titanium white, alizarin crimson, cerulean blue)
·#4 round brush
·#6 flat brush
·#2 filbert brush
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits