plate no. 0453

Red Church Landscape

oilPost-Impressionismcityscapechurchbuildingstreesskylandscapecityscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice loose brushwork and color mixing to capture the essence of a scene rather than precise details. It also encourages simplification of forms and understanding of atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the church, trees, and horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin layer of light blue.
step 03
Establish the main color masses of the church with varying shades of red and orange.
step 04
Add darker tones to define the shadows and architectural details of the church.
step 05
Paint the surrounding trees and foliage using a variety of greens, browns, and yellows, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 06
Add details to the foreground with loose strokes, suggesting grass and other vegetation.
step 07
Refine the composition by adjusting colors and values to create depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to enhance the focal point and overall impression.

color palette

primary · cadmium red · cerulean blue · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt umber · sap green · titanium white

Mix various shades of red by adding yellow ochre and burnt umber. Create greens by mixing blue and yellow, and adjust the tone with burnt umber or white.

techniques

·broken color
·alla prima
·scumbling
·color temperature
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing.
→Creating muddy colors by over-blending.
→Ignoring the importance of value contrast in creating depth.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints (cadmium red, cerulean blue, yellow ochre, burnt umber, sap green, titanium white)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits