plate no. 3725

Rest under the bird cherry

Mikhail Olennikov, 1970

oil, canvasRealismlandscapetreesblossomslandscapefigurespathsky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create texture and capturing the impression of light filtering through foliage. It also provides practice in depicting figures within a landscape setting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees and the path.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, using visible brushstrokes.
step 03
Establish the dark values of the tree trunks and branches.
step 04
Begin layering the foliage with greens, yellows, and whites, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 05
Add highlights to the blossoms with thicker applications of white paint.
step 06
Develop the ground plane with layers of green, yellow, and brown, suggesting the texture of grass and wildflowers.
step 07
Paint the figures with simplified shapes and colors.
step 08
Refine details and adjust values to create depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · titanium white · sap green · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · cadmium red

Mix various shades of green by combining sap green with yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Create the blossom color by mixing titanium white with small amounts of yellow ochre and cadmium red.

techniques

·impasto
·broken color
·scumbling
·layering
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details, losing the freshness and spontaneity of the brushstrokes.
→Creating mud by over-mixing colors on the palette.
→Failing to establish a clear value structure, resulting in a flat and lifeless painting.
→Not varying the brushstrokes enough to create texture and visual interest.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·titanium white oil paint
·sap green oil paint
·ultramarine blue oil paint
·yellow ochre oil paint
·burnt umber oil paint
·cadmium red oil paint
·assorted round and flat brushes

optional

·palette knife
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·painting medium

Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the visibility of the brushstrokes. Consider using a fast-drying medium to speed up the drying time between layers.

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