plate no. 9187

Poplars Along Hobro Fjord

Lili Elbe, 1908

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapetreeswaterskylandscapereflectionfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting reflections in water and creating atmospheric perspective through color and value changes. It also provides practice in painting trees with varied foliage and branch structures.

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 trees and the horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blues and grays, using loose brushstrokes to suggest clouds.
step 03
Establish the water area with a base color of muted blue-green, paying attention to the reflections.
step 04
Paint the distant landmass with softened colors to create atmospheric perspective.
step 05
Add the main trees, starting with the trunks and then building up the foliage with varied greens.
step 06
Refine the reflections in the water, mirroring the shapes and colors of the trees and sky.
step 07
Add details to the foreground foliage and shoreline, using small brushstrokes to create texture.
step 08
Adjust values and colors throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and harmony.

color palette

primary · titanium white · cerulean blue · sap green · raw umber

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

Mix muted greens by combining sap green with raw umber and yellow ochre. Achieve the sky colors by blending titanium white with cerulean blue and a touch of raw umber. Use burnt sienna to warm up the greens and browns in the foreground.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·broken color
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·reflection techniques

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the reflections, making them too sharp and defined.
→Using too much bright green, which can make the painting look unnatural.
→Failing to create enough contrast between the foreground and background, flattening the image.
→Neglecting the subtle color variations in the sky and water.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·oil paints (titanium white, cerulean blue, sap green, raw umber, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat, sizes 2-8)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife