plate no. 5073
Poppies, Antelope Valley
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing for atmospheric perspective and learn how to suggest detail with expressive brushstrokes. It will also help them understand how to create depth in a landscape.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the mountains, valley, and road, focusing on perspective.
- step 02
Establish the horizon line and the overall composition.
- step 03
Block in the sky with a light blue wash, fading towards the horizon.
- step 04
Lay in the basic colors of the mountains and valley, using lighter, cooler tones for distant areas.
- step 05
Add the dominant colors of the flowers in the foreground and midground, focusing on color variation.
- step 06
Define the road with light yellows and creams, adding shadows to create form.
- step 07
Add details to the foliage and flowers with short, expressive brushstrokes.
- step 08
Refine the overall composition and add highlights to create depth and interest.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow · cadmium orange · titanium white
secondary · viridian green · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre
Mix blues with white to create the atmospheric haze in the distance. Use orange and yellow with touches of red to create the poppy fields. Mix greens with yellow and blue for the foliage.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·impasto
- ·color layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic feel.
- →Creating colors that are too saturated, especially in the distance.
- →Failing to establish a clear sense of depth.
- →Not varying the brushstrokes enough to create texture and interest.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
- ·rags
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
- ·easel
Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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