plate no. 6358

Repos Aux Champs

oilImpressionismlandscapetreefieldfiguresanimalsskylandscape

some experience helpful

This painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, and in simplifying complex forms into expressive brushstrokes. It also encourages observation of light and shadow within a landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the tree, figures, and horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of light gray and blue.
step 03
Establish the large shapes of the tree with dark green, paying attention to the shadows.
step 04
Add the field with varying shades of green, using horizontal brushstrokes.
step 05
Define the figures and animals with simple shapes and dark values.
step 06
Layer lighter greens and yellows to create highlights in the field and tree.
step 07
Add details to the figures and animals, keeping them simple and impressionistic.
step 08
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed.

color palette

primary · sap green · yellow ochre · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · burnt umber · cadmium yellow light · raw sienna

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue with varying amounts of white. Use burnt umber to darken greens and create shadows. Add small amounts of cadmium yellow light to create highlights.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·wet-on-dry layering
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic feel.
→Making the colors too saturated and unnatural.
→Failing to establish a clear value structure.
→Not simplifying the forms enough.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 12x16
·oil paints (sap green, yellow ochre, titanium white, ultramarine blue, burnt umber)
·round brushes (#4, #6, #8)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·rags