plate no. 1819

Savoy Alps

Henri Matisse, 1901

oilImpressionismlandscapemountainstreesbuildingskylandscapepath

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex landscapes and using expressive brushstrokes to create texture and form. It's a good exercise in color mixing to achieve a harmonious and atmospheric effect.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: mountains, building, trees, and path.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, varying the tone slightly.
step 03
Establish the mountain range with a mix of blues, greens, and whites, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Paint the dark green masses of the trees, using vertical brushstrokes.
step 05
Add the building, focusing on its simple geometric form and the play of light on its surfaces.
step 06
Paint the grassy field with varying shades of green, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 07
Define the path with a light pinkish-brown, adding subtle shadows.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to enhance the overall impression.

color palette

primary · Prussian Blue · Yellow Ochre · Titanium White · Cadmium Green

secondary · Burnt Sienna · Alizarin Crimson

Mix blues and greens for the mountains and trees. Use white to lighten and create atmospheric perspective. Mix pinkish-brown for the path using white, burnt sienna, and a touch of alizarin crimson.

techniques

·Impasto
·Broken Color
·Atmospheric Perspective
·Color Mixing
·Simplification

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Using too much detail in the background, which can flatten the image.
→Not varying the greens enough, resulting in a monotonous landscape.
→Making the path too uniform in color and value.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·Oil paints (Prussian Blue, Yellow Ochre, Titanium White, Cadmium Green, Burnt Sienna, Alizarin Crimson)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (flat and round)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags