plate no. 5159
Study, Gum Trees, Woodside
Horace Trenerry, 1926
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, and in capturing the form of trees with simplified brushstrokes. It's a good exercise in observing subtle color variations in natural light.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the trees and the horizon line lightly.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of light blue-grey.
- step 03
Establish the main areas of the ground with a base color of ochre and burnt umber.
- step 04
Begin layering the tree trunks with varying shades of grey, brown, and white, paying attention to the light and shadow.
- step 05
Add the foliage using short, broken brushstrokes of greens, browns, and yellows.
- step 06
Develop the foreground with darker values and more textured brushstrokes to create depth.
- step 07
Refine the details of the trees and foliage, adding highlights and shadows.
- step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed to create a cohesive composition.
color palette
primary · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre
secondary · ultramarine blue · sap green · raw sienna
Mix the sky color by combining titanium white with a touch of ultramarine blue and burnt umber. Achieve the tree bark colors by mixing burnt umber, titanium white, and a hint of yellow ochre. The foliage colors can be created by mixing sap green with yellow ochre and burnt umber.
techniques
- ·dry brush texture
- ·broken color
- ·layering
- ·scumbling
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overblending the colors, resulting in a flat and lifeless appearance.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the trees and foliage.
- →Making the foreground too detailed and distracting from the main subject.
- →Not establishing a clear value structure, leading to a lack of depth.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
- ·oil paints
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·mineral spirits
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
Use a medium-tooth canvas to allow for good paint adhesion and texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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