plate no. 7020
Palm Trees, Antibes
Samuel Peploe, 1928
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice layering colors and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. It also provides an opportunity to study light and shadow on organic forms.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees and the path.
- step 02
Establish the background sky and distant foliage with thin washes of color.
- step 03
Block in the main tree trunks with a base color, paying attention to the light source.
- step 04
Layer darker tones to create shadows and define the form of the trees.
- step 05
Add highlights to the tree trunks and foliage to create depth and dimension.
- step 06
Paint the palm fronds with loose, expressive brushstrokes, varying the color and value.
- step 07
Develop the foreground with details of the path and surrounding vegetation.
- step 08
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · sap green · cerulean blue · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium yellow · ultramarine blue · raw sienna
Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, and use white to lighten values. Browns are achieved by mixing umber with blues or yellows.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overblending colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
- →Failing to establish a clear light source.
- →Getting lost in details too early in the process.
- →Not varying brushstrokes enough to create texture.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·sap green oil paint
- ·cerulean blue oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·easel
Use a medium-tooth canvas for better texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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