plate no. 0082

Spring at Old Lyme

Childe Hassam, 1906

oilImpressionismlandscapetreeslandscapefoliagefieldskyforest

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as using broken color to represent light and shadow in a natural setting. It also provides practice in depicting atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees and the horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blue, adding subtle variations in tone.
step 03
Establish the dark masses of the distant hills and the foreground foliage.
step 04
Begin layering colors in the trees, using greens, yellows, and oranges to suggest leaves.
step 05
Add details to the tree trunks and branches, using thin lines and varied tones of brown.
step 06
Develop the foreground foliage with short, broken brushstrokes, layering greens, browns, and yellows.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the overall color balance.

color palette

primary · sap green · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium yellow · cadmium red · titanium white · raw sienna

Mix greens by blending blues and yellows, and vary the tones by adding white or burnt umber. Create the foliage colors by layering different shades of green, yellow, and brown. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques