plate no. 5238

September Afternoon

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscapetreeslandscapegrassskyfoliagewall

some experience helpful

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

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 trees and the horizon line.
step 02
Establish the sky color with a thin wash of blue, allowing for variations in tone.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the trees and foliage with a base layer of green and yellow.
step 04
Add layers of color to the trees, incorporating oranges, browns, and hints of red to create depth and variation.
step 05
Paint the grass in the foreground, using a mix of greens, yellows, and browns to create texture and depth.
step 06
Define the wall with muted tones of gray and brown, adding subtle highlights and shadows.
step 07
Refine the details of the trees and foliage, paying attention to the direction of light and the shapes of the leaves.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to create a sense of atmosphere and realism.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · sap green · ultramarine blue · raw umber

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow · titanium white

Achieve the greens by mixing yellow ochre and sap green, and vary the tones by adding small amounts of ultramarine blue or burnt sienna. Create the foliage colors by layering different shades of green, yellow, and brown.

techniques

·broken color
·layering
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic feel.
→Using too much pure color without mixing and layering.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in tone and color within the foliage.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints (yellow ochre, sap green, ultramarine blue, raw umber, burnt sienna, cadmium yellow, titanium white)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·rags