plate no. 0612

Segovia

Ernest Lawson, 1916

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscapecityscapebuildingshillswaterskylandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors with visible brushstrokes to create texture and depth, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective to depict distance.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, hills, and water, focusing on proportions and placement.
step 02
Block in the sky with broad strokes of light blue, white, and yellow, creating a sense of cloud formations.
step 03
Establish the base colors for the hills and foreground, using greens, browns, and yellows.
step 04
Begin layering colors on the buildings, using a mix of warm and cool tones to suggest light and shadow.
step 05
Add details to the water, reflecting the colors of the sky and surrounding landscape.
step 06
Refine the brushwork, using short, broken strokes to create texture and visual interest.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and dimension.
step 08
Step back and assess the painting, making any necessary adjustments to color, value, or composition.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · titanium white · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · viridian green

Mix greens by combining ultramarine blue and cadmium yellow. Create earth tones by mixing burnt umber with yellow ochre and small amounts of alizarin crimson.

techniques

·impasto
·broken color
·scumbling
·layering
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overblending the colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Neglecting the importance of value contrast in creating depth.
→Focusing too much on detail in the background, flattening the composition.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing, leading to a lack of harmony.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, titanium white, burnt umber, cadmium yellow, alizarin crimson, viridian green)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits