plate no. 7855
Skowhegan Landscape
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using bold brushstrokes to create texture and form. It also provides an opportunity to explore color mixing for natural elements like trees and grass.
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 main shapes: the building, trees, figure, and horizon line.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, lake, fields, grass, and building.
- step 03
Add the darker tones to the trees and building to define their forms.
- step 04
Introduce variations in the green of the grass to create depth.
- step 05
Paint the figure in the foreground, focusing on the simplified form.
- step 06
Add details to the trees, suggesting foliage with broken brushstrokes.
- step 07
Refine the colors and values, paying attention to the light and shadow.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights to enhance the overall composition.
color palette
primary · sap green · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre
secondary · titanium white · burnt umber · raw sienna
Mix greens by combining blue and yellow, adjust with white for lighter tones. Achieve the red-brown of the building by mixing red with umber. Use white to create lighter values and soften colors.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·broken color
- ·dry brush
- ·scumbling
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality.
- →Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
- →Failing to simplify the forms and getting bogged down in realism.
- →Ignoring the overall composition and focusing too much on individual elements.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oils)
- ·mineral spirits or turpentine (for cleaning)
optional
- ·easel
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the brushstroke visibility. Acrylics will dry faster, while oils allow for more blending time.
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