plate no. 9929

Smoketree

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapedesertmountainstreeskylandscapefoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and color mixing to create realistic landscapes. It also provides practice in rendering complex organic shapes like trees with simplified brushstrokes.

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 horizon line and the placement of the mountains and tree.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, gradually blending towards the horizon.
step 03
Establish the base color of the desert landscape with a mix of browns and yellows, varying the tones to create depth.
step 04
Paint the distant mountains, using cooler, muted colors to suggest atmospheric perspective.
step 05
Begin building up the tree's form with layers of brown and ochre for the branches and trunk.
step 06
Add the blue foliage using short, broken brushstrokes, varying the shades of blue and purple.
step 07
Refine the details of the foreground, adding small plants and rocks with careful attention to value and color.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and realism.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · violet

Achieve the desert colors by mixing burnt umber, yellow ochre, and white. Create the blue foliage by mixing ultramarine blue with touches of violet and white for highlights.

techniques

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

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the tree, resulting in a stiff and unnatural appearance.
→Failing to create a sense of depth in the landscape by not varying the colors and values.
→Using too much pure blue in the sky, making it look flat and unrealistic.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the desert landscape, resulting in a monotonous and uninteresting ground plane.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 12x16
·oil paints: ultramarine blue, burnt umber, yellow ochre, titanium white, cadmium yellow, alizarin crimson
·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits