plate no. 2315

Red Rooftops near Marnat

Émilie Charmy, 1916

oilExpressionismlandscapelandscapetreeshillsbuildingskyvegetation

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork and color mixing for creating atmospheric perspective. It also encourages simplification of forms and capturing the essence of a scene rather than precise detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes: horizon line, hills, building, trees, and foreground elements.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light gray-blue, blending subtly.
step 03
Establish the distant hills with darker blues and greens, creating a sense of depth.
step 04
Paint the building with a base of white, then add the red roof and shadows.
step 05
Block in the larger tree shapes with varying shades of green.
step 06
Add the foreground vegetation with loose, gestural brushstrokes, using darker greens and browns.
step 07
Introduce lighter blues and whites in the foreground to suggest light and form.
step 08
Refine details and adjust values as needed to create a cohesive composition.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · sap green · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Mix greens by blending blues and yellows, adjusting the ratio for different shades. Use white to lighten colors and create atmospheric perspective. Mix burnt sienna and ultramarine blue to create muted browns and grays.

techniques

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

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality.
→Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
→Failing to establish a clear sense of depth.
→Making the foreground too detailed and distracting from the overall composition.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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