plate no. 3689

Sheds and gardens

Andrey Shishkin, 2008

oilRealismlandscapelandscapebuildingstreesruralskyfence

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering textures of wood and foliage. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth through layering and value changes.

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 buildings, trees, and horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin layer of light gray-blue, establishing the overall tone.
step 03
Establish the dark values of the distant trees and buildings, working from back to front.
step 04
Begin adding the mid-tones to the buildings and foreground, paying attention to the light direction.
step 05
Develop the texture of the trees and foliage using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 06
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and wood grain.
step 07
Refine the foreground with grasses and small details.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · sap green

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

Mix various shades of green by combining sap green with yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Achieve muted browns by mixing raw umber with burnt sienna and a touch of blue. Use white to lighten values and create atmospheric haze.

techniques

·layering
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·broken color

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Creating overly saturated colors that detract from the muted atmosphere.
→Ignoring the importance of value contrast in creating depth.
→Failing to establish a clear light source.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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