plate no. 7870

Segovia, Spain

Robert Henri, 1906

oilAmerican Realismlandscapemountainslandscapebuildingstreesskyvillage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in blocking in shapes with expressive brushstrokes and understanding atmospheric perspective through color and value changes. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into essential forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes: mountains, buildings, and foreground foliage.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, using horizontal brushstrokes.
step 03
Establish the mountain range with a mix of browns, pinks, and blues, varying the color temperature to suggest depth.
step 04
Define the buildings using warm reds, oranges, and yellows, focusing on simple geometric forms.
step 05
Paint the foreground foliage with dark greens and browns, using broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Add highlights to the foliage and buildings to create a sense of light and shadow.
step 07
Refine the details of the buildings and foliage, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed to create a cohesive composition.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · viridian green

Mix browns and pinks for the mountains by combining burnt sienna, white, and a touch of red or blue. Achieve greens for the foliage by mixing blue and yellow, and adjust the shade with burnt sienna.

techniques

·alla prima
·broken color
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·impasto

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Failing to establish a clear value structure, resulting in a flat image.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing, leading to a lack of harmony.
→Not simplifying the forms and getting bogged down in unnecessary details.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (flat and round)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits

optional

·painting medium
·easel
·rags

Use a limited palette of colors to create a harmonious and unified painting. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base color and create a more cohesive composition.

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