plate no. 6591

Picnic Under The Trees

oil, canvasImpressionismgenre paintingfigurestreeslandscapepicnicclothingfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures in a landscape and capturing the effects of dappled sunlight through trees. It's a good exercise in color mixing and creating depth through atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main shapes: figures, trees, and landscape.
step 02
Establish the background landscape with broad washes of color, focusing on atmospheric perspective.
step 03
Block in the main masses of the trees, paying attention to the light and shadow patterns.
step 04
Start defining the figures with basic shapes and colors, gradually adding details.
step 05
Develop the foliage with broken brushstrokes, using a variety of greens, yellows, and browns.
step 06
Refine the details of the figures' clothing and faces, adding highlights and shadows.
step 07
Add the picnic blanket and other details, paying attention to their placement and perspective.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition, ensuring a harmonious balance of color and light.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white · alizarin crimson

secondary · sap green · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow light

Mix various shades of green by combining yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, and a touch of burnt umber. Achieve the pinks and reds in the clothing by mixing alizarin crimson with titanium white. Use white to create highlights and lighten colors.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·wet-on-wet blending
·atmospheric perspective
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Creating overly sharp edges, which can flatten the image.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in color and light.
→Ignoring the importance of atmospheric perspective in creating depth.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt umber, titanium white, alizarin crimson, sap green, ultramarine blue, cadmium yellow light)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife

optional

·painting medium (e.g., Liquin)
·varnish

Use a medium-textured canvas to allow for better paint adhesion and brushstroke visibility. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.

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