plate no. 9495

Sheds

Valentin Serov, 1901

oilImpressionismlandscapelandscapebuildingsfieldskytreeswater

suitable for beginners

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork and color mixing to create atmospheric perspective. It's also good practice for simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.

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: horizon line, placement of buildings, and the general areas of the field and sky.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of lavender, allowing for some variation in tone.
step 03
Establish the dark mass of trees and buildings using a mix of browns and greens, keeping the values slightly lighter as they recede into the distance.
step 04
Paint the strip of water with a muted blue, reflecting the sky above.
step 05
Begin building up the field with layers of greens, yellows, and browns, using loose, expressive brushstrokes.
step 06
Add highlights to the grasses and foliage with lighter shades of green and white, focusing on the foreground.
step 07
Refine the details of the buildings and trees, but maintain a sense of looseness and impressionistic style.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed to create a cohesive and atmospheric landscape.

color palette

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

secondary · sap green · cadmium yellow light · alizarin crimson

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Create muted tones by adding a touch of complementary color (e.g., a bit of red to green). Achieve the lavender sky by mixing ultramarine blue, alizarin crimson, and white.

techniques

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

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Creating overly saturated colors, which can detract from the muted atmosphere.
→Ignoring the subtle value shifts that create depth and distance.
→Making the brushstrokes too uniform and lacking variety.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 or similar)
·oil paints
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil or other painting medium
·odorless mineral spirits
·rags

optional

·easel
·medium gloss
·painting knife

Use a limited palette to simplify color mixing and create a harmonious painting. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base color and unify the composition.

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