plate no. 1194
Small House with a red roof
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values. It also provides practice in painting foliage and atmospheric perspective.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the house, trees, and horizon line.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, varying the tone slightly to suggest clouds.
- step 03
Establish the dark masses of the trees with a dark green mixture, paying attention to the shapes and edges.
- step 04
Paint the house with a red-brown base, adding highlights and shadows to define its form.
- step 05
Add the foliage in the foreground, using a variety of greens and yellows to create texture and depth.
- step 06
Paint the birch tree, focusing on the white bark and delicate branches.
- step 07
Add the figure and other details in the foreground.
- step 08
Refine the colors and values throughout the painting, paying attention to the overall harmony and balance.
color palette
primary · cerulean blue · viridian green · cadmium red · yellow ochre
secondary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium yellow
Mix greens by combining blue and yellow, and use white to lighten values. Create the red-brown for the house by mixing red, umber, and a touch of yellow.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·scumbling
- ·broken color
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details, losing the freshness and spontaneity of the original.
- →Making the colors too uniform, failing to capture the subtle variations in light and shadow.
- →Ignoring the importance of atmospheric perspective, resulting in a flat and unrealistic landscape.
- →Not simplifying the complex foliage, leading to a cluttered and confusing composition.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brush (size 8)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
- ·odorless mineral spirits (for cleaning brushes)
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·painting rags
Use a medium-grit canvas for better texture. Acrylic paints are recommended for beginners due to their faster drying time.
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