plate no. 0881
Sketch for 'Cemetery, south of France'
Rupert Bunny, 1920
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as using visible brushstrokes to build texture and form.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition: horizon line, mountain, building, and tree placements.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a thin layer of light blue, allowing some variation in tone.
- step 03
Establish the distant hills with a muted blue-green mix, fading towards the horizon.
- step 04
Lay in the basic colors of the field: greens, yellows, and browns, varying the mix in different areas.
- step 05
Add the trees, starting with the darker trunk and branch structure, then layering on foliage with dabs of color.
- step 06
Paint the building with light tones, suggesting form with subtle shadows.
- step 07
Refine the details in the foreground, adding texture with short, broken brushstrokes.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of light and depth.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · titanium white · sap green
secondary · burnt umber · cadmium yellow light · raw sienna
Mix greens by combining yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, and white. Vary the proportions to create different shades. Use burnt umber and ultramarine blue to create muted grays and browns for the tree trunks and shadows.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Creating too much detail in the background, flattening the sense of depth.
- →Using too much paint, obscuring the texture of the brushstrokes.
- →Neglecting the subtle color variations in the field and sky.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (for oil paints)
- ·odorless mineral spirits (for oil paints)
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
- ·apron
Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the visibility of the brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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