plate no. 6642

Study for The Clearing

Henri-Edmond Cross, 1906

oilPointillismsketch and studytreesforestlandscapefoliagewoods

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, layering, and using broken color to create a sense of light and atmosphere. It's also a great exercise in understanding pointillism and how small dots of color can blend optically.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the trees and the overall composition lightly on the canvas.
step 02
Establish the darkest values first, focusing on the tree trunks and shadowed areas.
step 03
Begin applying dots and dashes of color, starting with the dominant colors in the foliage and ground.
step 04
Layer different colors on top of each other, allowing some of the underlayers to show through.
step 05
Pay attention to how colors interact with each other to create a sense of depth and light.
step 06
Use warmer colors in the foreground and cooler colors in the background to create atmospheric perspective.
step 07
Continuously step back from the painting to assess the overall effect and make adjustments as needed.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

secondary · viridian green · burnt sienna · cadmium orange

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, and purples by combining blues and reds. Achieve variations by adding white or small amounts of complementary colors.

techniques